Q.630.7 

I£  6sr 
no.  33 
cop.  5 


UNIVERSITY  OF  KUHOU 


SALINE    COUNTY    SOILS 


3* 


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UNIVERSITY    OF    ILLINOIS    LIBRARY    AT    URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station 


SOIL  REPORT  NO.  33 


SALINE  COUNTY  SOILS 


Br  R.  S.  SMITH,  E.  A.  NORTON,  E.  E.  DeTURK,  F.  C.  BAUER, 
and  L.H.SMITH 


\J 


URBANA,  ILLINOIS,  JUNE,  1926 


The  Soil  Survey  of  Illinois  was  organized  under  the  general  supervision 
of  Professor  Cyril  G.  Hopkins,  with  Professor  Jeremiah  G.  Mosier  directly 
in  charge  of  soil  classification  and  mapping.  After  working  in  association 
on  this  undertaking  for  eighteen  years,  Professor  Hopkins  died  and  Profes- 
sor Mosier  followed  two  years  later.  The  work  of  these  two  men  enters  so 
intimately  into  the  whole  project  of  the  Illinois  Soil  Survey  that  it  is  im- 
possible to  disassociate  their  names  from  the  individual  county  reports* 
Therefore  recognition  is  hereby  accorded  Professors  Hopkins  and  Mosier  for 
their  contribution  to  the  work  resulting  in  this  publication. 


STATE  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE  ON  SOIL  INVESTIGATIONS 

1925-1928 


Ralph  Allen,  Delavan 

F.  I.  Mann,  Oilman 

N.  F.  Goodwin,  Palestine 


A.  N.  Abbott,  Morrison 
G.  F.  Tullock,  Rockford 
W.  E.  Riegel,  Tolono 


RESEARCH  AND  TEACHING  STAFF  IN  SOILS 
.1925-1926 

Herbert  W.  Mumford,  Director  of  the  Experiment  Station 
W.  L.  Burlison,  Head  of  Agronomy  Department 


Soil  Physics  and  Mapping 
R.  S.  Smith,  Chief 
0.  I.  Ellis,  Assistant  Chief 

D.  C.  Wimer,  Assistant  Chief 

E.  A.  Norton,  Associate 
M.  B.  Harland,  Associate 

R.  S.  Stauffer,  First  Assistant 
A.  A.  Endres,  Assistant 

D.  C.  Maxwell,  Assistant 
M.  R.  Isaacson,  Assistant 

Soil  Fertility  and  Analysis 

E.  E.  DeTurk,  Chief 

V.  E.  Spencer,  Associate 

F.  H.  Crane,  Associate 

J.  C.  Anderson,  First  Assistant 
R.  H.  Bray,  First  Assistant 
E.  G.  Sieveking,  First  Assistant 
H.  A.  Lunt,  First  Assistant 
L.  Allen,  Assistant 
R.  Cowart,  Assistant 


Soil  Experiment  Fields 
F.  C.  Bauer,  Chief* 
H.  J.  Snider,  Assistant  Chief* 
John  Lamb,  Jr.,  Associate* 
A.  H.  Karraker,  Associate 
M.  A.  Hein,  Associate 
C.  J.  Badger,  Associate 
A.  L.  Lang,  Associate 
A.  U.  Thor,  First  Assistant 
J.  E.  McKittrick,  Assistant 
L.  B.  Miller,  Assistant 

Soil  Biology 

O.  H.  Sears,  Assistant  Chief 
F.  M.  Clark,  Assistant 
W.  R.  Carroll,  Assistant 
W.  R.  Paden,  Assistant 

Soils  Extension 

F.  C.  Bauer,  Professor* 

H.  J.  Snider,  Assistant  Professor* 

John  Lamb,  Jr.,  Associate* 

Soil  Survey  Publications 
L.  H.  Smith,  Chief 
F.  W.  Gault,  Scientific  Assistant 
Nellie  Boucher  Smith,  Editorial 
Assistant 


*  Engaged  in  Soils  Extension  as  well  as  in  Soil  Experiment  Fields. 


& 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 

It  is  a  matter  of  common  observation  that  soils  vary  tremendously  in  their 
productive  power,  depending  upon  their  physical  condition,  their  chemical  com- 
position, and  their  biological  activities.  For  any  comprehensive  plan  of  soil 
improvement  looking  toward  the  permanent  maintenance  of  our  agricultural 
lands,  a  definite  knowledge  of  the  various  existing  kinds  or  types  of  soil  is  a 
first  essential.  It  is  the  purpose  of  a  soil  survey  to  classify  the  various  kinds  of 
soil  of  a  given  area  in  such  a  manner  as  to  permit  definite  characterization  for 
description  and  for  mapping.  With  the  information  that  such  a  survey  affords, 
every  farmer  or  landowner  of  the  surveyed  area  has  at  hand  the  basis  for  a 
rational  system  of  improvement  of  his  land.  At  the  same  time  the  Experiment 
Station  is  furnished  an  inventory  of  the  soils  of  the  state,  upon  which  intelli- 
gently to  base  plans  for  those  fundamental  investigations  so  necessary  for  solving 
the  problems  of  practical  soil  improvement. 

This  county  soil  report  is  one  of  a  series  reporting  the  results  of  the  soil 
survey  which,  when  completed,  will  cover  the  state  of  Illinois.  Each  county 
report  is  intended  to  be  as  nearly  complete  in  itself  as  it  is  practicable  to  make 
it,  even  at  the  expense  of  some  repetition.  There  is  presented  in  the  form  of  an 
Appendix  a  general  discussion  of  the  important  principles  of  soil  fertility,  in 
order  to  help  the  farmer  and  landowner  to  understand  the  significance  of  the 
data  furnished  by  the  soil  survey  and  to  make  intelligent  application  of  the  same 
in  the  maintenance  and  improvement  of  the  land.  In  many  cases  it  will  be  of 
advantage  to  study  the  Appendix  in  advance  of  the  soil  report  proper. 

Data  from  experiment  fields  representing  the  more  extensive  types  of  soil, 
and  furnishing  valuable  information  regarding  effective  practices  in  soil  man- 
agement, are  embodied  in  the  form  of  a  Supplement.  This  Supplement  should 
be  referred  to  in  connection  with  the  descriptions  of  the  respective  soil  types 
found  in  the  body  of  the  report. 

While  the  authors  must  assume  the  responsibility  for  the  presentation  of 
this  report,  it  should  be  understood  that  the  material  for  the  report  represents 
the  contribution  of  a  considerable  number  of  the  present  and  former  members 
of  the  Agronomy  Department  working  in  their  respective  lines  of  soil  mapping, 
soil  analysis,  and  experiment  field  investigation.  In  this  connection  special 
recognition  is  due  the  late  Professor  J.  G.  Mosier,  under  whose  direction  the  soil 
survey  of  Saline  county  was  conducted,  and  Mr.  II.  C.  Wheeler,  who  as  leader 
of  the  field  party,  was  in  direct  charge  of  the  mapping. 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
«  UR8ANA-  CHAMPAIGN 


CONTENTS  OF  SOIL  REPORT  No.  33 
SALINE  COUNTY  SOILS 

PAGE 

LOCATION  AND  CLIMATE  OF  SALINE  COUNTY 1 

AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTION 1 

SOIL  FORMATION 3 

Geological  History    3 

Physiography  and  Drainage 4 

Soil  Development 6 

Soil  Groups 6 

INVOICE  OF  THE  ELEMENTS  OF  PLANT  FOOD  IN  SALINE  COUNTY  SOILS 7 

The  Upper  Sampling  Stratum 8 

The  Middle  and  Lower  Sampling  Strata 11 

DESCRIPTION  OF  SOIL  TYPES 14 

Upland  Timber  Soils 14 

Terrace  Soils   17 

Old  Swamp  and  Bottom-Land  Soils 18 

Residual  Soils 21 

APPENDIX 

EXPLANATIONS  FOR  INTERPRETING  THE  SOIL  SURVEY 22 

Classification  of  Soils 22 

Soil  Survey  Methods 24 

PRINCIPLES  OF  SOIL  FERTILITY 25 

Crop  Requirements  with  Respect  to  Plant-Food  Materials 25 

Plant-Food  Supply  26 

Liberation  of  Plant  Food 27 

Permanent  Soil  Improvement 29 

SUPPLEMENT 

EXPERIMENT  FIELD  DATA 39 

The  Raleigh  Field 40 

The  Sparta  Field   47 

The  Elizabethtown  Field 48 

The  Old  Vienna  Field 50 

The  New  Vienna  Field 51 


SALINE  COUNTY  SOILS 

By  R.  S.  SMITH,  E.  A.  NORTON,  E.  E.  DeTURK,  F.  C.  BAUER  and  L.  H.  SMITH' 

LOCATION  AND  CLIMATE  OF  SALINE  COUNTY 

Saline  county  is  located  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Illinois,  18  miles  west 
of  the  junction  of  the  Wabash  and  Ohio  rivers.  The  county  is  rectangular  in 
shape,  21  miles  long  and  18  miles  wide,  comprizing  an  area  of  386  square  miles. 
With  the  exception  of  a  belt  of  high,  rough  land  in  the  south  portion,  the  county 
lies  within  the  lower  extremity  of  the  glaciated  region  of  the  state. 

The  climate  of  Saline  county  is  characterized  by  a  wide  range  between  the 
extremes  of  winter  and  summer,  and  by  an  abundant,  well-distributed  rainfall. 
The  greatest  range  of  temperature  in  any  year  from  1899  to  1923  was  128  degrees 
in  1918.  The  lowest  temperature  recorded  during  the  entire  period  was  - — 22°  in 
1899 ;  the  highest,  110°  in  1918.  The  average  date  of  the  last  killing  frost  in 
spring  is  April  14 ;  the  earliest  in  fall,  October  24.  The  length  of  the  growing 
season,  therefore,  is  about  193  days. 

The  average  annual  precipitation  in  the  county  for  the  24-year  period  from 
1899  to  1923  was  44.67  inches.  The  average  annual  rainfall  by  months  for  this 
period  was  as  follows:  January,  4.15  inches;  February,  2.79;  March,  4.38; 
April,  4.11 ;  May,  4.15 ;  June,  3.51 ;  July,  3.84 ;  August,  4.66 ;  September,  3.33  ; 
October,  2.90;  November,  3.14;  December,  3.71.  The  proportion  of  rainfall 
occurring  during  each  season  was :  winter,  23.8  percent ;  spring,  28.2  percent ; 
summer,  27.1  percent;    autumn,  20.9  percent. 

AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTION 

Agriculture  and  mining  are  the  two  important  industries  in  Saline  county. 
Agriculture  probably  is  first  in  importance  because  it  employs  more  people,  the 
total  value  of  its  product  is  as  large,  and  practically  the  entire  area  of  the 
county  is  utilized  in  its  pursuit.  The  system  of  farming  which  has  been  prac- 
ticed since  the  county  was  settled  has  been  that  of  general  grain  farming,  and 
as  a  whole  it  has  been  profitable.  Some  farms,  however,  have  been  abandoned 
and  more  are  being  abandoned  each  year  because  the  land  has  passed  the  point 
of  marginal  utility ;  that  is,  the  point  at  which,  under  present  conditions  of  agri- 
culture, they  can  be  profitably  operated.  One-third  of  the  acreage  in  the  county 
is  not  suited  to  general  grain  farming,  and  unless  some  specialized  crops  are 
introduced  this  large  acreage  will  pass  the  point  of  being  profitable  and  become 
submarginal  land.  The  areas  referred  to  as  marginal  lands  are  the  rough  and 
rocky  hillsides,  the  slopes  from  which  fertile  surface  soil  is  removed  each  year 
by  erosion,  and  land  which  has  been  so  farmed  that  it  no  longer  produces  profit- 
able crops.  Special  crops  which  are  adapted  to  this  marginal  land  are  pasture, 
fruit,  and  forest. 


1  E.  S.  Smith,  in  charge  of  soil  survey  mapping;  E.  A.  Norton,  first  assistant  in  soil  survey 
mapping;  E.  E.  DeTurk,  in  charge  of  soil  analysis;  F.  C.  Bauer,  in  charge  of  experiment 
fields;    L.  H.  Smith,  in  charge  of  publications. 


2  Soil  Report  No.  33  [June, 

In  1919,  as  shown  by  the  Fourteenth  Census,  there  were  2,105  farms  in 
Saline  county,  these  having  an  average  of  97  acres  each,  84.2  acres  of  which 
were  improved.  In  1900  the  number  of  farms  reported  was  2,912,  showing  a 
rapid  decrease  during  the  two  decades.  Tenantry  also  decreased  50  percent 
during  this  time,  76.3  percent  of  the  farms  being  operated  in  1919  by  the  owners. 

The  principal  crops  are  corn,  wheat,  oats,  cowpeas,  pasture,  and  hay.  The 
Census  reports  the  following  acreage  and  yield  of  the  more  important  crops. 

Crops  Acreage  Production  Yield  per  acre 

Corn 34,342  692,567  bu.  20.0  bu. 

Wheat 29,276  387,403  bu.  13.0  bu. 

Oats 11,295  208,270  bu.  18.0  bu. 

Barley 16  156  bu.  9.7  bu. 

Rye 265  1,800  bu.  6.8  bu. 

Timothy 8,279  9,839  tons  1.2  tons 

Timothy  and  clover  mixed  .  4,398  5,084  tons  1.1  tons 

Glover 3,025  3,549  tons  1.2  tons 

Alfalfa 876  1 ,421  tons  1.6  tons 

Silage  crops 342  1 ,472  tons  4.3  tons 

Corn  for  silage 2,730  ■    5,955  tons  2 . 1  tons 

Within  the  past  few  years  the  cowpea,  grown  for  both  hay  and  seed,  has 
been  rapidly  establishing  itself  as  one  of  the  staple  crops  of  the  region.  The 
total  value  of  the  grains,  hay  and  seed,  produced  in  1919  was  slightly  more  than 
three  million  dollars.  It  must  be  remembered  that  these  figures  are  for  but  a 
single  year,  that  of  1919,  which  appears  to  have  been  a  poor  crop  year  for  corn 
and  oats.  The  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  reports  the  following  acre- 
yields  for  the  ten-year  period  1911-1920,  for  Saline  county:  corn,  26.8  bushels; 
oats,  23.9  bushels ;  tame  hay,  1.04  tons ;   winter  wheat,  13.0  bushels. 

The  livestock  interests,  including  those  of  dairy  and  poultry,  are  of  im- 
portance, as  is  shown  by  the  following  data,  also  taken  from  the  1920  Census. 

Animals  and  Animal  Products  Number  Value 

Horses 5,697  $538,225 

Mules 3,289  382,899 

Beef  cattle 4,578  219,710 

Dairy  cattle •  7,313  391,272 

Sheep 1,995  26,284 

Swine 17,210  218,967 

Poultry 159,723  141 ,964 

Eggs  and  chickens 416 ,861 

Dairy  products 277 ,  376 

Wool 5,219  lbs.  2,939 

The  report  gives  the  total  value  of  livestock  as  more  than  two  and  one-half 
million  dollars. 

Very  little  interest  has  been  shown  in  the  growing  of  fruit  until  the  past 
few  years.  Prior  to  1920  no  fruit  was  grown  for  sale  outside  the  county ;  since 
then  orchards  have  been  set  out  and  have  returned  good  profits.  About  52,000 
quarts  of  small  fruits  were  produced  in  1919.  The  total  production  of  orchard 
fruits — namely,  apples,  pears,  peaches,  and  cherries — was  approximately  80,000 
bushels,  three-fifths  of  which  were  apples.  Thirty  thousand  pounds  of  grapes 
were  produced. 


1926]  Saline  County  3 

SOIL  FORMATION 

GEOLOGICAL  HISTORY 

A  belt  of  high,  rough  land,  which  is  commonly  referred  to  as  a  spur  of  the 
Ozarks,  enters  Saline  county  in  the  southwestern  corner,  stretching  across  the 
southern  tier  of  townships  in  a  northeasterly  direction.  The  history  of  this 
area  dates  back  to  the  later  Paleozoic  period  of  geological  time.  It  was  not 
covered  by  any  advance  of  ice  during  the  Glacial  period,  and  for  that  reason 
is  termed  unglaciated.  The  surface  rocks  of  this  area  have  been  exposed  to  the 
processes  of  weathering  longer  than  those  in  other  parts  of  the  state.  This  area 
is  the  result  of  a  series  of  uplifts,  the  remains  of  which  are  shown  by  discon- 
nected plains  of  about  the  same  level  and  extent.  The  first  uplift  now  forming 
the  crest  of  the  ridge  appears  in  Saline  county  in  the  southeastern  corner.  The 
few  isolated  peaks  forming  the  remnants  of  this  plain  stand  about  1,000  feet 
above  sea  level,  and  are  the  highest  points  in  the  county.  These  ridges  are  made 
up  of  diverse  rocks,  the  remaining  high  knobs  being  resistant  sandstone,  while 
limestone  and  shales,  which  are  more  easily  weathered,  form  the  valleys. 

The  most  important  period  in  the  geological  history  of  that  part  of  the 
county  north  of  this  rugged  area  is  known  as  the  Glacial  period.  At  that  time 
snow  and  ice  accumulated  in  the  region  of  Labrador  and  to  the  west  of  Hudson 
Bay  to  such  an  amount  that  the  mass  pushed  outward  from  these  centers,  chiefly 
southward,  until  a  point  was  reached  where  the  ice  melted  as  rapidly  as  it  ad- 
vanced. In  moving  across  the  country  from  the  far  north,  the  ice  gathered  up 
all  sorts  and  sizes  of  materials,  including  clay,  silt,  sand,  boulders,  and  even 
immense  masses  of  rock.  Some  of  these  materials  were  carried  for  hundreds 
of  miles  and  rubbed  against  surface  rocks  and  against  each  other  until  largely 
ground  to  powder. 

A  pressure  of  40  pounds  a  square  inch  is  exerted  by  a  mass  of  ice  100  feet 
thick,  and  these  ice  sheets  were  hundreds,  or  possibly  thousands,  of  feet  in 
thickness.  The  material  carried  along  in  the  ice,  especially  the  boulders  and 
pebbles,  became  powerful  agents  for  grinding  and  wearing  away  the  surface 
over  which  the  ice  passed.  Preglacial  ridges  and  hills  were  rubbed  down,  valleys 
filled  with  debris,  and  the  surface  features  were  changed  entirely.  The  mixture 
of  materials  deposited  by  the  glacier  is  known  as  boulder  clay,  till,  glacial  drift, 
or  simply  drift.  The  average  depth  of  this  deposit  over  the  state  of  Illinois 
is  estimated  at  more  than  one  hundred  feet. 

During  the  Glacial  period  at  least  six  distinct  ice  advances  occurred  that 
were  separated  by  long  periods  of  time.  Only  one  of. these,  designated  as  the 
Illinoisan,  reached  Saline  county.  All  the  county  except  the  rugged  area  lying 
south  of  the  valley  of  the  South  Fork  of  Saline  river  was  covered  by  this  glacier. 
Previous  to  the  ice  invasion  the  glaciated  region  generally  was  not  well  suited 
to  agriculture  because  of  its  rough  and  hilly  character,  as  is  shown  by  numerous 
borings  which  indicate  that  erosion  had  completely  dissected  the  land.  The 
general  effect  of  the  glaciers  was  to  change  the  surface  from  hilly  to  gently  un- 
dulating. Erosion  has  since  continued  active  and  has  changed  the  topography 
in  some  areas  from  undulating  back  to  hilly  again. 


4  Soil  Report  No.  33  [June, 

The  deposit  of  drift  left  by  the  Illinoisan  glacier  varied  in  depth  from  a 
few  inches  on  the  tops  of  old  knolls  or  hills  to  a  depth  of  50  to  100  feet  in  old 
stream  valleys.  The  drift  was  a  heavy,  sandy,  gravelly,  compact  clay,  originally 
blue  but  now  more  yellowish,  owing  to  weathering.  When  the  limit  of  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Illinoisan  glacier  was  reached,  the  material  carried  by  the  glacier 
did  not  accumulate  in  a  broad  undulating  ridge  or  moraine,  as  was  the  case 
with  other  glacial  advances,  because  the  thickness  of  the  glacier  and  the  amount 
of  material  it  carried  were  greatly  reduced  by  the  time  it  reached  Saline  county, 
and  its  recession  was  gradual  and  uniform  rather  than  intermittent,  as  was  the 
case  of  those  glaciers  which  built  up  moraines. 

Another  important  process  took  place  during  and  shortly  after  the  Glacial 
period,  which  furnished  a  large  part  of  the  soil  material  from  which  the  present 
soils  were  derived.  During  the  melting  of  the  glaciers,  the  Illinoisan  as  well 
as  subsequent  ones,  the  streams  were  overloaded  with  rock  flour  produced  by 
the  grinding  action  of  the  glacier.  This  rock  flour  was  deposited  in  the  stream 
valleys,  and  after  the  streams  regained  their  former  channels,  it  dried,  was 
picked,  up  by  the  wind,  and  wras  rather  uniformly  deposited  over  the  upland 
as  dust.  Saline  county  received  its  share  of  this  wind-blown  material,  called 
loess,  which  buried  the  older  deposits  to  a  depth  varying  from  one  to  twenty  feet. 

The  broad,  flat  valleys  which  are  found  along  the  main  drainage  courses 
are  not  the  result  of  stream  erosion  since  the  Glacial  period.  Altho  the  Illinoisan 
glacier,  in  its  advance  across  Saline  county,  covered  the  land  with  a  deposit  vary- 
ing from  a  few  inches  to  more  than  100  feet,  the  deposit  had  little  effect  on  the 
present  general  drainage  of  the  county.  The  main  drainage  channels  were  re- 
established along  Preglacial  lines  and  the  streams  have  taken  meandering  courses 
thru  these  broad  valleys  which  have  been  filled  to  a  depth  of  50  to  100  feet 
with  drift.  These  valleys  are  termed  Preglacial  because  they  are  the  result  of 
stream  erosion  since  the  area  was  first  lifted  out  of  the  sea  at  a  very  early 
geologic  period.  The  Preglacial  valleys  comprize  more  than  one-third  of  the 
total  area  of  the  county,  and  contain  the  more  fertile  and  productive  soils. 


PHYSIOGRAPHY  AND  DRAINAGE 

Saline  county  has  extremes  in  topography  which  are  due  primarily  to  the 
rugged,  hilly  character  of  the  Ozark  highlands.  This  area  is  extremely  rough 
and  broken;  erosion  has  dissected  the  once  extensive  plains  until  now  only  a 
few  very  narrow  ridges  remain  as  comparatively  level  land.  The  glaciated  area 
to  the  north  of  the  Ozark  ridge  is  flat  to  gently  rolling  except  for  a  few  areas 
along  the  west  side  of  the  county  which  are  rolling  to  rough.  The  broad  stream 
valleys  are  nearly  level,  the  bordering  lowlands  undulating,  and  the  upland 
gently  rolling. 

The  altitude  of  Saline  county  varies  from  980  feet  above  sea  level  to  340  feet, 
a  difference  of  more  than  600  feet.  The  highest  point  is  on  Horton  Hill  near 
the  southern  part  of  Sommerset  township,  (Township  10  South,  Range  7  East)  ; 
the  lowest  point  is  found  where  Saline  river  leaves  the  county.  The  following 
figures  give  the  altitudes  of  a  few  points  in  the  county:    Bald  Knob,  820  feet; 


1926) 


Saline  County 


Eldorado,  385;  Francis  Mills,  371;  Galatia,  416;  Harrisburg,  366;  Horton 
Hill,  980 ;  Raleigh,  418 ;   Rileyville,  393  ;   Rudemont,  400 ;    Sommerset,  446. 

The  county  lies  entirely  within  the  drainage  basin  of  Saline  river,  the  waters 
of  which  flow  east,  emptying  into  the  Ohio  river.  South  Fork  drains  the  three 
southern  townships  with  the  exception  of  the  east  half  of  Sommerset  township 
(Township  10  South,  Range  3  East),  which  is  drained  by  Eagle  creek;  Middle 
Fork  with  its  tributary,  Bangston  creek,  drains  the  central  and  western  parts 
of  the  county ;  and  North  Fork  with  its  tributary,  Rector  creek,  drains  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  county.  South  Fork  and  Middle  Fork  unite  just  east 
of  the  center  of  the  county  to  form  Saline  river. 

The  county  is  generally  well  drained,  each  of  the  larger  streams  having 
numerous  tributaries  which  drain  every  section.  Judging  from  the  ramification 
of  streams,  the  amount  of  erosion,  and  the  breadth  and  depth  of  stream  valleys, 
the  drainage  of  Saline  county  would  be  classed  as  mature.  The  unglaciated 
area  drains  particularly  well,  owing  to  the  hilly  topography.  The  problem  here 
is  not  one  of  drainage  but  one  of  controlling  the  erosion  which  occurs  as  a  result 
of  surface  run-off.  Except  for  a  few  flat  areas  the  glaciated  upland  drains  well, 
erosion  becoming  a  problem  on  the  more  rolling  topography.    Heavy  spring  rains 


R5C 


KfeE 


R.7E. 


^    GLACIATED 


~i 


UNQLACIATED 


TERRACE 
BOTTOM    LAND 


Fig.  1. — Drainage  Map  op  Saline  County  Showing  Stream 

Courses,  Glaciated  and  Unglaciated  Areas, 

Terrace,  and  Bottom  Land 


6  Soil  Report  No.  33  [June, 

fill  the  stream  channels  and  the  streams  frequently  overflow  the  surrounding 
bottom  land,  making  shallow  lakes  which  do  not  dry  up  until  summer.  Exten- 
sive dredging  has  improved  this  condition  materially,  but  more  improvement 
could  be  effected,  especially  by  deepening  and  widening  those  dredges  already 
in.  The  system  should  be  extended  until  it  reaches  every  farm,  since  much  of 
the  land  in  these  broad  valleys  remains  swampy  thruout  the  year. 

SOIL  DEVELOPMENT 

Rocks  weathered  in  place,  glacial  till,  and  loess  are  the  three  sources  of 
soil  material  from  which  the  present  upland  soils  of  Saline  county  were  derived. 
The  present  soil  is  thought  to  have  been  derived  mainly  from  material  of  loessial 
origin.  On  the  stony  slopes  in  the  unglaciated  part  of  the  county  are  some  areas 
where  the  soil  material  is  a  mixture  of  residual  and  loessial  material,  and  might 
properly  be  termed  residuo-loessial  or  residuo-seolial.  Erosion  has,  subsequently, 
removed  the  loess  from  some  of  the  hilly  areas  in  the  glaciated  region  so  that 
the  till  forms  the  soil  material  in  those  areas. 

The  general  composition  of  any  soil  material,  particularly  loess,  is  rather 
uniform  when  first  deposited.  The  various  physical,  chemical,  and  biological 
agencies  of  weathering  form  soil  out  of  soil  material  by  some  or  all  of  the  follow- 
ing processes:  the  leaching  of  certain  elements,  the  accumulation  of  others; 
the  chemical  reduction  of  certain  compounds,  the  oxidation  of  others ;  the  trans- 
location of  the  finer  soil  particles,  and  the  arrangement  of  them  into  layers, 
zones  or  horizons ;  and  the  accumulation  of  organic  matter  from  the  growth 
and  decay  of  vegetable  material. 

One  of  the  very  pronounced  characteristics  observed  in  most  soils  is  that  they 
are  composed  of  distinct  layers,  strata,  or  horizons,  and  so,  as  explained  on  page 
22,  these  horizons  are  named,  from  the  surface  down :  A,  the  layer  of  extraction ; 
B,'  the  layer  of  concentration  or  accumulation;  and  C,  less-altered  material, 
or  the  layer  in  which  weathering  has  had  less  effect.  The  development  of  hori- 
zons in  a  soil  is  an  indication  of  its  age.  Bottom-land  soils  which  are  constantly 
receiving  deposits  washed  down  from  the  adjoining  hills  are  called  young  soils; 
new  soil  material  is  added  so  frequently  that  the  process  of  weathering  does  not 
have  time  to  form  distinct  horizons.  Some  of  the  areas  in  the  broad  preglacial 
bottom  lands  of  Saline  county  do  not  overflow  often  and  have  not  received  any 
additional  deposit  of  consequence  for  many  years ;  the  soils  in  these  areas  have 
developed  horizons  but  they  are  not  so  mature  as  those  of  the  upland. 

SOIL  GROUPS 

The  soils  of  Saline  county  are  divided  into  four  groups,  as  follows : 

Upland  Timber  Soils,  including  all  the  upland  areas  of  glacial  or  loessial 
origin,  that  are  now,  or  were  formerly,  covered  with  timber. 

Terrace  Soils,  including  bench  lands,  or  second  bottom  lands,  formed  by 
deposits  from  overloaded  streams. 

Swamp  and  Bottom-Land  Soils,  including  the  overflow  land  along  streams, 
the  swamps,  and  poorly  drained  lowlands. 

Residual  Soils,  including  rock  outcrops,  and  soils  formed  in  place  thru  the 
weathering  of  rocks. 


AJ,N.1(),>    ^^w      NT 


cor.vn 


1926] 


Saline  County 


Table  1. — Soil  Types  of  Saline  County,  Illinois 


Soil 
type 
No. 


Name  of  type 


Area  in 
square 
miles 


Area 

in 
acres 


Percent 

of  total 

area 


Upland  Timber  Soils  (100,  300) 


1341 
334/ 
135\ 
335/ 
332 


Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam 

Yellow  Silt  Loam 

Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay . 


119.40 

91.58 

2.80 


213.78 


76  416 

58  611 
1  792 


136  819 


30.88 

23.68 

.72 


55.28 


Terrace  Soils  (1500) 


1531     JDeep  Gray  Silt  Loam |         22.77 


14  573 


5.89 


Old  Swamp  and  Bottom-Land  Soils  (1300) 


1331 

1354 

1321 

1334.1 

1326.1 


Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam 

Mixed  Loam 

Drab  Clay  Loam 

Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Clay. 
Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay 


70.20 
11.59 
30.17 
16.21 

8.96 


137.13 


44  928 

7  418 

19  309 

10  374 

5  734 


87  763 


18.15 
3.00 
7.80 
4.19 
2.32 


35.46 


Residual  Soils  (000) 

098 

Stony  Loam 

12.45 

.57 

7  968 
365 

3.22 

099 

Rock  Outcrop 

.15 

13.02 

8  333 

3.37 

Total 

386.70 

247  488 

100.00 

Table  1  gives  a  list  of  the  soil  types  found  in  Saline  county,  classified 
according  to  the  groups  described  above.  It  also  shows  the  area  of  each  type  in 
square  miles  and  in  acres  and  its  percentage  of  the  total  area  of  the  county. 
The  accompanying  map  shows  the  location  and  boundary  lines  of  every  type 
of  soil  in  the  county,  even  down  to  areas  of  a  few  acres  in  extent. 

For  explanations  concerning  the  classification  of  soils  and  the  interpretation 
of  the  maps  and  tables,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  first  part  of  the  Appendix 
to  this  report. 


INVOICE  OF  THE  ELEMENTS  OF  PLANT  FOOD 
IN  SALINE  COUNTY  SOILS 

In  order  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  its  chemical  composition,  each  soil  type 
is  sampled  in  the  manner  described  below  and  subjected  to  chemical  analysis 
for  its  important  plant-food  elements.  For  this  purpose,  samples  are  taken 
usually  in  sets  of  three  to  represent  different  strata  in  the  top  40  inches  of  soil ; 
namely,  an  upper  stratum  (0  to  6%  inches),  a  middle  stratum  (6%  to  20  inches), 
and  a  lower  stratum  (20  to  40  inches).  These  sampling  strata  correspond  ap- 
proximately in  the  common  kinds  of  soil  to  2  million  pounds  per  acre  of  dry 
soil  in  the  upper  stratum  and  to  two  times  and  three  times  this  quantity  in  the 
middle  and  lower  strata,  respectively.  This,  of  course,  is  a  purely  arbitrary 
division  of  the  soil  section,  very  useful  in  arriving  at  a  knowledge  of  the  quan- 


8  Soil  Report  No.  33  [June, 

tity  and  distribution  of  the  elements  of  plant  food  in  the  soil,  but  it  should 
be  borne  in  mind  that  these  strata  seldom  coincide  with  the  natural  strata  as 
they  actually  exist  in  the  soil  and  which  are  referred  to  in  describing  the  soil 
types  as  surface,  subsurface,  and  subsoil.  By  this  system  of  sampling  we  have 
represented  separately  three  zones  for  plant  feeding.  The  upper,  or  surface  layer, 
includes  at  least  as  much  soil  as  is  ordinarily  turned  Avith  the  plow,  and  this  is 
the  part  with  which  the  farm  manure,  limestone,  and  other  fertilizing  materials 
are  incorporated. 

The  chemical  analysis  of  a  soil,  obtained  by  the  methods  here  employed, 
gives  the  invoice  of  the  total  stock  of  the  several  plant-food  materials  actually 
present  in  the  soil  strata  sampled  and  analyzed.  It  should  be  understood,  how- 
ever, that  the  rate  of  liberation  from  their  insoluble  forms,  a  matter  of  at  least 
equal  importance,  is  governed  by  many  factors,  and  is  therefore  not  necessarily 
proportional  to  the  total  amounts  present. 

For  convenience  in  making  application  of  the  chemical  analyses,  the  results 
as  presented  here  have  been  translated  from  the  percentage  basis  and  are  given 
in  the  accompanying  tables  in  terms  of  pounds  per  acre.  In  doing  this  the 
assumption  is  made  that  for  ordinary  types  an  acre  of  soil  to  a  depth  of  6% 
inches  weighs  2  million  pounds.  It  is  understood,  of  course,  that  this  value  is 
only  an  approximation,  but  with  this  understanding  it  is  believed  that  it  will 
suffice  for  the  purpose  intended.  It  is,  of  course,  a  simple  matter  to  convert 
these  figures  back  to  the  percentage  basis  in  case  one  desires  to  consider  the 
information  in  that  form. 

With  respect  to  the  presence  of  limestone  and  acidity  in  defferent  strata, 
no  attempt  is  made  to  include  in  the  tabulated  results  figures  purporting  to 
represent  their  averages  for  the  respective  types,  because  of  the  extreme  varia- 
tions frequently  found  within  a  given  soil  type.  In  examining  each  soil  type 
in  the  field,  however,  numerous  qualitative  tests  are  made  which  furnish  general 
information  regarding  the  soil  reaction,  and  in  the  discussion  of  the  individual 
soil  types  which  follows,  recommendations  based  upon  these  tests  are  giv.en  con- 
cerning the  lime  requirement  of  the  respective  types.  Such  recommendations 
cannot  be  made  specific  in  all  cases  because  local  variations  exist,  and  because 
the  lime  requirement  may  change  from  time  to  time,  especially  under  cropping 
and  soil  treatment.  It  is  often  desirable,  therefore,  to  determine  the  lime  re- 
quirement for  a  given  field,  and  in  this  connection  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
section  in  the  Appendix  dealing  with  the  application  of  limestone  (page  29). 

THE  UPPER  SAMPLING  STRATUM 

In  Table  2  are  reported  the  amounts  of  organic  carbon  and  the  total  quan- 
tities of  nitrogen,  phosphorus,  sulfur,  potassium,  magnesium,  and  calcium  in 
2  million  pounds  of  the  surface  soil  of  each  type  in  Saline  county. 

In  connection  with  this  table  attention  is  called  to  the  variation  among  the 
soil  types  with  respect  to  their  content  of  the  different  plant-food  elements.  It 
will  be  seen  from  the  analyses  that  a  variation  in  the  organic-carbon  content 
of  the  different  soils  is  accompanied  by  a  parallel  variation  in  the  nitrogen  con- 
tent.   The  organic-carbon  content,  which  serves  as  a  measure  of  the  total  organic 


1926]  Saline  County  9 

matter  present,  is  usually  from  10  to  12  times  that  of  the  total  nitrogen.  This 
close  relationship  is  explained  by  the  well-established  facts  that  all  soil  organic 
matter  contains  nitrogen,  and  that  most  of  the  soil  nitrogen  (usually  98  percent 
or  more)  is  present  in  a  state  of  organic  combination.  This  close  relationship 
is  also  maintained  in  the  middle  and  lower  sampling  strata. 

The  organic  matter,  with  the  accompanying  nitrogen,  shows  some  variation 
among  the  different  soil  types  but  is  comparatively  low  thruout  the  county. 
Of  the  nine  types  of  soil  for  which  analyses  are  reported  in  this  county,  only 
one  contains  more  than  40,000  pounds  of  organic  carbon  in  the  surface  stratum 
of  an  acre.  This  is  Drab  Clay  Loam,  Bottom,  which  contains  46,410  pounds  of 
this  element,  with  a  corresponding  nitrogen  content  of  3,710  pounds  an  acre. 
The  remainder  of  the  soils  in  the  county  range  from  34,480  pounds  of  organic 
carbon  in  Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay,  down  to  15,720  pounds  in  Yellow  Silt  Loam. 
The  total  nitrogen  values  are  correspondingly  low,  being  in  the  two  latter  types 
2.800  and  1,340  pounds  respectively.  Because  of  the  small  amounts  of  both 
nitrogen  and  organic  matter  in  these  soils,  it  is  particularly  important  to  grow 
legume  crops  frequently  as  green  manures  and  plow  them  down,  in  addition  to 
conserving  and  using  all  the  animal  manure  which  can  be  produced. 

Other  elements  are  not  so  closely  associated  with  each  other  as  organic 
matter  and  nitrogen.  There  is  some  degree  of  correlation,  however,  between 
sulfur,  another  element  used  by  growing  plants,  and  organic  carbon.  This  is 
because  a  considerable,  tho  varying,  proportion  of  the  sulfur  in  the  soil  exists 
in  the  organic  form,  that  is,  as  a  constituent  of  the  organic  matter.  The  sulfur 
content  of  Saline  county  soils  is  generally  low.  It  ranges,  in  the  surface  soil, 
from  60  to  660  pounds  an  acre,  averaging  less  than  half  the  phosphorus  content. 
The  proportion  is  still  lower  in  the  deeper  layers  of  soil.  This  is  partly  ac- 
counted for  by  the  low  organic  matter.  Another  factor  is  the  atmospheric 
supply.  Sulfur  dioxid  escapes  into  the  air  in  the  gaseous  products  from  the 
burning  of  all  kinds  of  fuel,  particularly  coal.  The  gaseous  sulfur  dioxid  is 
soluble  in  water  and  consequently  it  is  dissolved  out  of  the  air  by  rain  and 
brought  to  the  earth.  In  regions  of  large  coal  consumption  the  amount  of  sulfur 
thus  added  to  the  soil  is  relatively  large.  At  Urbana,  during  the  eight-year 
period  from  1917  to  1924,  there  has  been  added  to  soil  by  the  rainfall  3.5  pounds 
of  sulfur  an  acre  a  month  as  an  average.  Similar  observations  have  been  made 
in  localities  in  southern  Illinois  for  shorter  periods.  At  Newton,  in  Jasper 
county,  in  1921  there  was  added  in  the  rainfall  2.52  pounds  of  sulfur  an  acre 
in  June  and  3.75  pounds  in  September.  At  Ewing,  Franklin  county,  during 
the  season  of  1921  the  average  monthly  precipitation  contained  2.27  pounds  of 
sulfur  an  acre.  These  figures  will  afford  some  idea  of  the  amount  of  sulfur 
added  by  rain  and  also  of  the  wide  variation  in  these  amounts  under  different 
conditions.  On  the  whole,  these  facts  would  indicate  that  the  sulfur  added 
from  the  atmosphere  supplements  that  contained  in  the  soil,  so  that  there  is 
probably  no  need  for  sulfur  fertilizers  in  Saline  county.  Because  of  the  pos- 
sibility of  a  need  for  sulfur  fertilization  in  some  parts  of  the  state,  experiments 
with  gypsum  have  been  started  on  five  experiment  fields,  namely,  Raleigh,  Toledo, 
Carthage,  Hartsburg,  and  Dixon.  The  first  two  named  fields  are  located  in 
southern  Illinois,  in  Saline  and  Cumberland  counties,  respectively. 


10 


Soil  Report  No.  33 


[June, 


Table  2. — Plant-Food  Elements  in  the  Soils  of  Saline  County,  Illinois 
Upper  Sampling  Stratum:  About  0  to  6%  Inches 
Average  pounds  per  acre  in  2  million  pounds  of  soil 


Soil 
type 
No. 


Soil  type 


Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

organic 

nitro- 

phos- 

sulfur 

potas- 

magne- 

carbon 

gen 

phorus 

sium 

sium 

Total 
calcium 


Upland  Timber  Soils  (100,  300) 


134\ 
334/ 
135\ 
335/ 
332 


Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam. 
Yellow  Silt  Loam 


Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight 
Clay 


21  570 

2  110 

860 

350 

24  230 

5  210 

15  720 

1  340 

660 

280 

30  490 

6  420 

17  720 

1  620 

680 

340 

25  480 

4  600 

4  670 

4  440 

5  140 


Terrace  Soils  (1500) 

1531 

Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam 

24  710   2  360        970 

380    30  720 

6  170 

6  720 

Old  Swamp  and  Bottom-Land  Soils  (1300) 


1331 

1354 

1321 

1334.1 

1326.1 


Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam 

Mixed  Loam1 

Drab  Clay  Loam 

Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Clay 
Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay 


20  490 


46  410 
21  920 
34  480 


2  160 


3  710 

1  760 

2  800 


1  100 


1  280 
850 
820 


460 


660 
420 
440 


33  890 


40  790 
33  750 
35  580 


7  080 


14  230 

7  410 

10  480 


5  060 


16  250 

5  800 

13  100 


Residual  Soils  (000) 


098 
099 


Stony  Loam.  .  . 
Rock  Outcrop2 . 


19  960 


1  180 


520 


60 


22  880 


4  040 


4  300 


LIMESTONE  AND  SOIL  ACIDITY.— In  connection  with  these  tabulated  data  it  should 
be  explained  that  the  figures  for  limestone  content  and  soil  acidity  are  omitted  not  because  of  any 
lack  of  importance  of  these  factors,  but  rather  because  of  the  peculiar  difficulty  of  presenting  in 
the  form  of  general  numerical  averages  reliable  information  concerning  the  limestone  requirement 
for  a  given  soil  type.  A  general  statement,  however,  will  be  found  concerning  the  lime  require- 
ment of  the  respective  soil  types  in  connection  with  the  discussions  which  follow. 

'On  account  of  the  heterogeneous  character  of  Mixed  Loam,  chemical  analyses  are  not  in- 
cluded for  this  type. 
2No  samples  taken. 

The  phosphorus  content  of  the  soils  in  the  county  is  low,  on  the  whole, 
averaging  only  about  850  pounds  an  acre  in  the  surface  soil.  Drab  Clay  Loam 
contains  1,280  pounds  an  acre  of  this  element,  while  the  minimum,  520  pounds, 
is  found  in  Stony  Loam.  Considering  the  low  phosphorus  level  in  these  soils 
it  appears  that  the  renewal  of  this  element  by  the  addition  of  phosphate  will 
be  a  necessary  step  in  the  permanent  improvement  of  the  soil. 

The  potassium  content  of  the  soil  ranges  from  22,880  pounds  an  acre  in 
Stony  Loam  to  40,790  pounds  in  Drab  Clay  Loam.  From  a  quantitative  point 
of  view  the  least  of  these  amounts  is  far  above  maximum  crop  requirements. 
However,  the  rate  at  which  potassium  is  liberated  in  available  condition  from 
these  large  reserves  is  slow,  and  in  soils  so  low  in  organic  matter  as  is  the  case 
here  the  rate  of  liberation  may  be  too  slow  to  supply  the  needs  of  growing  crops. 
The  results  of  field  experiments  as  given  in  the  Supplement  are  an  indication 
that  potassium  fertilization  may  be  desirable,  at  least  for  some  crops  on  some 
of  the  soils  of  Saline  county. 

The  amounts  of  soil  calcium  are,  on  the  whole,  rather  low,  but  no  lower 
than  is  to  be  expected  in  old,  leached  soils  which  are  strongly  acid.  Soil  acidity 
and  calcium  deficiencies  are  very  frequently,  but  not  always,  associated.     The 


1926] 


Saline  County 


11 


Table  3. — Plant-Food  Elements  in  the  Soils  of  Saline  County,  Illinois 
Middle  Sampling  Stratum:  About  6%  to  20  Inches 

Average  pounds  per  acre  in  4  million  pounds  of  soil 


Soil 

type 
No. 


Soil  type 


Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

organic 

nitro- 

phos- 

sulfur 

potas- 

magne- 

carbon 

gen 

phorus 

sium 

sium 

Total 
calcium 


Upland  Timber  Soils  (100,  300) 


134; 

:;::t 
135\ 
335/ 
332 


Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam. 
Yellow  Silt  Loam 


Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight 
Clay 


23  930 

2  710 

1  530 

510 

54  520 

16  260 

16  830 

1  760 

1  470 

530 

63  510 

17  620 

14  040 

1  320 

1  160 

360 

51  880 

11  240 

8  160 

8  720 

9  720 


Terrace  Soils  (1500) 

1531 

Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam .  .  .  . 

...    24  140    2  460    1  420 

600    61  840    13  360    11  960 

Old  Swamp  and  Bottom-Land  Soils  (1300) 


1331 

Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam 

18  340 

2  440 

1  740 

640 

70  020 

14  570 

9  970 

1354 

Mixed  Loam1 

1321 

Drab  Clay  Loam 

56  460 
18  580 
41  280 

4  730 
1  720 
3  400 

1  930 
1  400 
1   120 

790 

780 
840 

81  290 
74  040 
70  040 

27  960 
20  860 
22  960 

24  900 

1334.1 
1326.1 

Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Clay 
Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay 

8  320 
23  240 

Residual  Soils  (000) 


098 
099 


Stony  Loam2.  . 
Rock  Outcrop3 . 


LIMESTONE  AND  SOIL  ACIDITY.— See  note  in  Table  2. 


'On  account  of  the  heterogeneous  character  of  Mixed  Loam,  chemical  data  for  this  type  are 
not  included. 

2The  stony  character  of  this  type  prevented  the  sampling  of  the  middle  stratum. 
3No  samples  taken. 

smallest  amount  of  calcium,  4,300  pounds  an  acre,  is  in  Stony  Loam;  but  this 
amount,  with  two  exceptions,  is  about  the  same  as  that  in  all  the  other  types. 
These  two  exceptions  are  Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay,  with  ]  3,100  pounds,  and 
Drab  Clay  Loam,  with  16,250  pounds.  Both  of  these  are  bottom-land  types 
which  are  neutral  or  alkaline.  Calcium  is  utilized  by  crops  in  fairly  large 
amounts,  so  that  in  soils  low  in  calcium  content  this  element  may  not  become 
available  rapidly  enough  to  supply  crop  needs.  The  liming  of  such  soils,  how- 
ever, supplies  any  calcium  deficiencies  in  addition  to  the  correcting  of  acidity. 
The  surface  soil  in  Saline  county  contains,  on  the  average,  approximately 
the  same  quantity  of  magnesium  as  of  calcium.  The  smallest  amount  found  is 
4,040  pounds  an  acre  and  the  maximum  14,230  pounds.  Because  of  the  rela- 
tively small  quantities  of  this  element  required  by  crops,  it  is  doubtful,  even  in 
soils  containing  the  minimum,  whether  it  ever  becomes  a  limiting  factor  in  crop 
growth.  Moreover,  any  possible  deficiencies  of  this  element  for  crop  growth 
in  the  surface  soils  are  offset  by  the  accumulations  in  the  lower  strata,  as  ex- 
plained in  the  following  section. 

THE  MIDDLE  AND  LOWER  SAMPLING  STRATA 

In  Tables  3  and  4  are  recorded  the  amounts  of  the  plant-food  elements  in 

the  middle  and  lower  sampling  strata.    In  comparing  these  strata  with  the  upper 

stratum,  or  with  each  other,  it  is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  data  as 

given  for  the  middle  and  lower  sampling  strata  are  on  the  basis  of  4  million 


12 


Soil  Report  No.  33 


[June, 


Table  4. — Plant-Food  Elements  in  Soils  of  Saline  County,  Illinois 

Lower  Sampling  Stratum:  About  20  to  40  Inches 

Average  pounds  per  acre  in  6  million  pounds  of  soil 


Soil 
type 
No. 


Soil  type 


Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

organic 

nitro- 

phos- 

sulfur 

potas- 

magne- 

carbon 

gen 

phorus 

sium 

sium 

Total 
calcium 


Upland  Timber  Soils  (100,  300) 


134\ 
334  / 
135\ 
335/ 
332 


Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam . 
Yellow  Silt  Loam 


Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight 
Clay 


19  420 

2  390 

2  350 

570 

94  730 

34  470 

12  210 

1  780 

2  050 

890 

96  090 

27  810 

14  460 

1  560 

1  860 

60 

84  720 

27  000 

18  540 
15  880 

15  840 


Terrace  Soils  (1500) 


1531      Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam 24  240    2  940    1  920        360    97  800    27  030    20  220 


Old  Swamp  and  Bottom-Land  Soils  (1300) 


1331 

1354 

1321 

1334.1 

1326.1 


Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam 

Mixed  Loam1 

Drab  Clay  Loam 

Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Clay 
Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay 


17  170 


49  710 
20  730 
37  440 


2  760 


4  780 

2  430 

3  720 


2  200 


2  730 
2  430 
2  160 


540 


1  000 

1  830 

680 


107  220 


120  210 
120  060 
109  740 


22  210 


50  790 
47  220 
50  340 


15  250 


45  700 
17  880 
48  360 


Residual  Soils  (000) 


098 
099 


Stony  Loam2.  . 
Rock  Outcrop3. 


LIMESTONE  AND  SOIL  ACIDITY.— See  note  in  Table  2. 


JOn  account  of  the  heterogeneous  character  of  Mixed  Loam,  chemical  data  for  this  type  are 
not  included. 

2The  stony  character  of  this  type  prevented  the  sampling  of  the  lower  stratum. 
3No  samples  taken. 

and  6  million  pounds  of  soil,  and  should,  therefore,  be  divided  by  two  and 
three  respectively  before  being  compared  with  each  other  or  with  the  data  for 
the  upper  stratum,  which  is  on  a  basis  of  2  million  pounds. 

With  this  in  mind  it  will  be  noted  in  comparing  the  three  strata  with  each 
other  that  all  the  soil  types  diminish  rather  rapidly  in  organic  matter  and  nit- 
rogen with  increasing  depth,  and  that  this  diminution  is  very  marked  even  in 
the  middle  stratum.  The  sulfur  content  decreases  markedly  with  increasing 
depth.  This  is  to  be  expected  since  a  portion  of  the  sulfur  exists  in  combina- 
tion with  the  soil  organic  matter,  and  inorganic  forms  of  sulfur  are  not  tenaci- 
ously retained  by  the  soil  against  the  leaching  action  of  ground  water.  Phos- 
phorus, on  the  other  hand,  is  not  removed  from  the  soil  by  leaching.  It  is  con- 
verted by  growing  plants  into  organic  forms  and  tends  to  accumulate  in  the 
surface  soil  in  these  forms  in  plant  residues  at  the  expense  of  the  underlying 
strata,  Thus,  in  the  eight  soil  types  in  Saline  county  analyzed,  the  second 
stratum  contains  proportionately  a  smaller  amount  of  phosphorus  than  the 
surface. 

The  basic  elements  have  all  been  leached  from  the  surface  soil  to  some 
extent.  Potassium  and  magnesium  show  increases  in  the  second  stratum  and 
are  still  more  concentrated  in  the  lowest.  As  these  bases  are  dissolved  from 
the  surface  soil  and  pass  downward  by  percolation,  they  are  in  part  fixed  in 


1926]  Saline  County  13 

the  lower  levels  by  reconversion  into  insoluble  forms.  Calcium  is  less  readily 
fixed  than  magnesium.  Consequently  the  latter  forces  calcium  out  into  the 
solution  so  that  it  is  carried  down  to  lower  levels  or  lost  entirely.  It  is  to  be 
noted  that  in  nearly  all  the  soil  types  in  Saline  county  the  accumulation  of 
calcium  occurs  only  in  the  lowest  stratum  or  not  at  all,  while  magnesium  and 
potassium  exhibit  increases  in  concentration  also  in  the  second  stratum. 

It  is  frequently  of  interest  to  know  the  total  supply  of  a  plant-food  element 
within  reach  of  the  roots  of  growing  crops.  While  it  is  impossible  to  obtain 
this  information  exactly,  especially  for  the  deeper-rooted  crops,  it  seems  prob- 
able that  practically  all  the  feeding  range  of  the  roots  of  most  of  our  common 
field  crops  is  included  in  the  upper  40  inches  of  soil.  By  adding  together  for 
a  given  soil  type  the  corresponding  figures  in  Tables  2,  3,  and  4,  the  total  amounts 
of  the  respective  plant-food  elements  to  a  depth  of  40  inches  may  be  ascertained. 

Considered  in  this  manner  the  tables  reveal  a  wide  variation  with  respect 
to  the  relative  abundance  of  the  various  elements  among  the  different  soil  types, 
as  measured  by  crop  requirements.  We  may  compare  in  this  way  two  extreme 
soil  types  in  the  county,  namely,  Drab  Clay  Loam,  Bottom,  and  Yellow  Silt 
Loam,  Upland.  These  are  among  the  most  extensive  soil  types  in  the  county. 
The  respective  amounts  of  nitrogen  in  the  two  soils  to  a  depth  of  40  inches  are 
13,220  and  4,880  pounds  an  acre,  which  is  equivalent  to  the  nitrogen  contained 
in  the  same  number  of  bushels  of  corn,  since  a  bushel  of  corn  contains  approxi- 
mately a  pound  of  nitrogen.  Drab  Clay  Loam  thus  contains  nearly  three  times 
as  much  of  this  element  as  Yellow  Silt  Loam.  Drab  Clay  Loam  also  contains 
considerably  more  phosphorus  than  Yellow  Silt  Loam.  The  former  contains 
5,940  pounds  of  phosphorus,  which  is  equivalent  to  34,900  bushels  of  corn,  as 
compared  to  4,180  pounds  in  the  latter,  equivalent  to  24,600  bushels  of  corn. 
A  comparison  of  total  amounts  of  potassium  in  the  two.  soil  types  is  of  little 
moment  when  it  is  considered  that  the  soil  with  the  lowest  content  of  this  ele- 
ment, namely,  Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay,  contains  potassium  equiv- 
alent to  850,000  bushels  of  corn.  This  large  total  supply  of  potassium  does  not 
mean  that  there  can  be  no  need  for  potassium  fertilizers.  The  supply  in  the  soil 
may  not  become  available  rapidly  enough  for  the  demands  of  crops  during  the 
growing  season,  and  therefore  in  some  cases  applications  of  potassium  may  prove 
beneficial. 

These  two  soil  types  vary  widely  in  calcium  content,  the  amounts  contained 
to  a  depth  of  40  inches  being  86,850  pounds  in  Drab  Clay  Loam  and  only  29,040 
pounds  in  Yellow  Silt  Loam.  The  relative  amount  of  calcium  is  not  of  so  great 
importance  directly  in  connection  with  the  corn  crop  as  it  is  with  respect  to 
legumes.  A  ton  of  red  clover  hay,  for  example,  contains  approximately  29  pounds 
of  calcium.  These  two  soils  therefore  contain  as  much  calcium  as  would  be 
removed  in  2,990  and  1,000  tons  of  red  clover  hay  respectively. 

The  above  statements  arc  not  intended  to  imply  that  it  is  possible  to  pre- 
dict how  long  it  might  be  before  a  certain  soil  would  become  exhausted  under 
a  given  system  of  cropping.  Neither  do  the  figures  necessarily  indicate  the 
immediate  procedure  to  be  followed  in  the  improvement  of  a  soil,  for  other 
factors  than  the  amount  of  plant-food  elements  present  enter  into  consideration. 


14  Soil  Report  No.  33  [June, 

Much  depends  upon  the  nature  of  the  crops  to  be  grown,  as  to  their  ability  to 
utilize  plant-food  materials,  and  much  depends  upon  the  condition  of  the  plant- 
food  substances  themselves,  as  to  their  availability.  Finally,  in  planning  the 
detailed  procedure  for  the  improvement  of  a  soil,  there  enter  for  consideration 
all  the  economic  factors  involved  in  any  fertilizer  treatment.  Such  chemical 
data  do,  however,  furnish  an  inventory  of  the  total  stocks  of  the  plant-food 
elements  that  can  possibly  be  drawn  upon,  and  in  this  way  contribute  funda- 
mental information  for  the  intelligent  planning,  in  a  broad  way,  of  systems  of 
soil  management  that  will  conserve  and  improve  the  fertility  of  the  land. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  SOIL  TYPES 

UPLAND  TIMBER  SOILS 

The  upland  timber  soils  include  all  the  upland  areas  of  glacial  and  loessial 
origin  that  are  now  or  were  formerly  covered  with  timber.  In  forests  the  vege- 
table material  from  trees  falls  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  is  either  burned 
or  suffers  almost  complete  decay.  Grasses,  which  furnish  large  amounts  of 
humus-forming  roots,  do  not  grow  to  any  extent  because  of  the  shade.  More- 
over, the  organic  matter  that  had  accumulated  before  the  timber  invaded  the 
territory  is  removed  thru  various  decomposition  processes,  with  the  result  that 
in  these  soils  generally  the  content  of  nitrogen  and  organic  matter  is  low.  A 
yellowish  or  yellowish  gray  surface  color  is  characteristic  of  timber  soils  in 
Illinois.  * 

The  total  area  of  upland  timber  soils  in  Saline  county  is  213.78  square  miles, 
or  more  than  55  percent  of  the  area  of  the  county. 

Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  (134,  334) 

Yellow-Gray  Silt -Loam  has  been  formed  under  the  influence  of  the  long- 
continued  growth  of  forests,  which  as  a  general  rule  develop  along  streams 
where  drainage  is  good  and  gradually  spread  over  the  prairie  as  drainage  be- 
comes established.  As  this  region  is  relatively  old,  ample  time  has  elapsed  for 
the  timber  to  spread  over  the  entire  county.  The  topography  of  Yellow-Gray 
Silt  Loam  varies  from  undulating  or  nearly  level  to  rolling.  The  topography 
of  the  area  occupied  by  this  type  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  modifi- 
cation of  certain  horizons  of  the  soil  profile,  producing  different  phases  within 
the  type.  These  phases  are  easily  recognized,  as  (1)  the  undulating  phase, 
whose  soils  have  a  distinct  gray  cast,  and  a  compact  to  tight  subsoil;  (2)  the 
rolling  phase,  whose  soils  are  more  yellowish,  and  not  so  compact.  The  rolling 
phase  of  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  is  well  drained  naturally;  it  is  much  better 
drained  than  the  undulating  phase.  The  zone  of  accumulation,  that  is,  the  upper 
subsoil  or  B  horizon,  in  the  undulating  phase  is  compact  to  tight  and  the  soil 
is  poorly  aerated  and  poorly  underdrained. 

Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  is  the  most  extensive  soil  type  in  the  county.  It 
covers  119.4  square  miles,  or  about  30  percent  of  the  area  of  the  county.  The 
rolling  phase  includes  all  the  areas  of  the  type  mapped  in  the  unglaciated  region, 
and  those  areas  that  occur  on  the  slopes  in  the  western  part  of  the  county  and 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Cottage  Grove  township  (Township  9  South,  Range  7  East). 


1926\  Saline  County  15 

Practically  all  the  remaining  areas  of  the  type,  except  a  few  scattered  ones,  are 
included  in  the  undulating  phase. 

The  Ax  horizon,  or  surface  soil,  of  the  undulating  phase  of  Yellow-Gray 
Silt  Loam,  0  to  3  inches,  or  6  to  7  inches  when  cultivated,  is  a  brownish  gray, 
friable  silt  loam.  The  A2  horizon,  or  subsurface  soil,  3  to  18  inches,  is  a  light 
yellowish  gray,  mealy,  friable  silt  loam.  The  B  horizon,  or  upper  subsoil,  18  to 
34  inches,  is  a  very  compact  to  tight,  well-mottled,  yellow  clay.  Blotches  of 
almost  pure  gray  occur  in  the  joints  or  cracks  made  by  water  percolating  thru 
the  soil.    The  C  horizon,  or  lower  subsoil,  is  a  friable,  mottled,  yellow  silt  loam. 

The  Al  horizon  of  the  rolling  phase  of  the  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam,  0  to  5 
inches,  or  6  to  7  inches  when  cultivated,  is  a  brownish  yellow,  friable  silt  loam. 
The  A2  horizon,  5  to  16  inches,  is  a  friable,  slightly  mottled,  yellowish  gray 
silt  loam.  The  B  horizon,  16  to  30  inches,  is  a  compact,  grayish  yellow,  mottled, 
silty  clay  loam.  The  C  horizon,  below  30  inches,  is  a  friable,  yellow,  mottled 
silt  loam.  The  depth  to  till  in  the  undulating  phase  of  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam 
varies  from  4  to  12  feet,  while  that  in  the  rolling  phase  is  more  constant  and 
averages  about  5  feet. 

Management. — The  undulating  phase  of  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  is  not 
naturally  well  drained.  It  is  usually  medium  to  strongly  acid  in  the  surface 
soil  and  the  degree  of  acidity  increases  with  an  increase  in  depth.  It  is  low  in 
organic  matter  and  nitrogen.  Red  clover  will  not  grow  on  this  land  unless  it  is 
either  limed  or  heavily  manured.  Sweet  clover  will  not  grow  without  lime. 
Cowpeas  do  fairly  well  without  lime  and  mixed  clover  and  timothy  hay  yields 
well  following  the  application  of  3  to  4  tons  of  limestone  per  acre. 

The  results  on  the  Raleigh  experiment  field,  which  is  located  on  soil  similar 
to  much  of  this  phase  of  the  type,  indicate  that  manure  or  residues  without 
lime  are  not  effective,  but  that  if  lime  also  is  used  the  response  of  the  crops 
is  good.  Rock  phosphate  has  not  caused  sufficient  increase  in  yields  on  this 
field  to  pay  its  cost.  Potash  has  caused  sufficient  increase  in  yields  to  indicate 
that  it  is  worth  while  to  try  small  applications  of  one  of  the  potash  salts  for 
corn.  The  outstanding  requirements  of  this  soil  type  are  first  lime  and  then 
fresh  organic  matter  and  nitrogen  secured  by  the  growth  of  clover,  preferably 
sweet  clover,  and  the  use  of  all  manure  available.  Further  studies  now  in  pro- 
gress indicate  that  other  treatments  may  prove  profitable,  in  addition  to  those 
that  can  now  be  definitely  recommended. 

The  rolling  phase  of  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  is  better  drained  than  the 
undulating  phase  because  of  its  more  rolling  topography  and  more  pervious 
subsoil.  It  is  similar  to  it  in  lime  requirement  except  that  the  subsoil  is  prob- 
ably always  less  acid,  and  it  is  also  low  in  nitrogen  and  organic  matter.  The 
Elizabethtown  experiment  field  is  located  on  soil  which  is  similar  to  this  phase 
of  the  type.  The  results  secured  on  this  field  indicate  no  improvement  in  yield 
from  the  use  of  manure  or  residues  alone.  A  very  marked  increase  in  yield, 
however,  follows  the  application  of  limestone  with  either  manure  or  residues. 
Rock  phosphate  has  produced  a  more  beneficial  effect  on  this  field  than  on  the 
Raleigh  field,  but  the  increase  in  yields  resulting  from  its  application  are  not 
sufficiently  high  to  justify  its  unqualified  recommendation  for  the  soil  under 


16  Soil  Report  No.  33  [June, 

discussion.  It  can  be  stated,  however,  that  the  results  from  its  use  on  this  kind 
of  soil  are  sufficiently  good  to  indicate  very  strongly  the  wisdom  of  giving  it 
a  trial  after  the  lime,  nitrogen,  and  organic-matter  deficiencies  of  the  soil  have 
been  corrected.  Comparative  phosphate  trials  have  been  conducted  on  the 
Elizabethtown  field  for  a  short  time.  This  work  has  not  been  in  progress  suffi- 
ciently long  to  warrant  drawing  conclusions.  To  date  the  differences  shown 
are  small.     The  potassium  treatment  on  this  field  has  been  ineffective. 

Yellow  Silt  Loam  (135,  335) 

Yellow  Silt  Loam  is  the  predominating  soil  type  in  the  unglaciated  region, 
and  is  also  well  distributed  over  the  remainder  of  the  county.  It  occurs  in 
very  irregular  areas  as  the  broken  and  hilly  land  along  streams,  in  the  more 
rolling  and  rough  upland,  and  on  the  steep  slopes  of  ridges.  It  has  been  heavily 
timbered,  and  some  of  the  timber  has  never  been  cut  off.  Yellow  Silt  Loam  is 
the  second  most  extensive  soil  type  in  the  county  and  covers  an  area  of  91.58 
square  miles. 

The  Ax  horizon,  or  surface  soil,  when  present,  is  a  reddish  to  brownish 
yellow,  friable,  silt  loam.  Sheet  washing  and  gullying  have  removed  the  true 
surface  soil  in  most  cases.  The  A2  horizon,  or  subsurface  soil,  is  a  yellowish 
gray,  friable,  silt  loam,  varying  in  thickness  from  0  to  15  inches,  depending 
on  how  much  erosion  has  taken  place.  The  B  horizon,  or  upper  subsoil,  is  a 
compact,  mottled  reddish  yellow,  silty  clay  loam,  found  at  a  depth  of  15  to  30 
inches  in  areas  where  erosion  is  not  active.  The  C  horizon,  or  lower  subsoil,  is 
a  friable,  yellow,  mottled  silt  loam.  Often  in  the  glaciated  areas  glacial  till 
forms  the  subsoil,  and  in  the  unglaciated  areas,  cherty,  residual  material  is  found. 

Management. — The  management  of  Yellow  Silt  Loam  must  be  governed 
by  the  slope  as  well  as  by  the  character  of  the  soil  material  of  the  particular 
area  in  question.  A  large  proportion  of  the  type  is  unsuited  to  ordinary  farm- 
ing because  of  its  steep  topography  and  consequent  tendency  to  erode.  The 
steepest  portions  should  be  utilized  for  timber  growth ;  other  portions  are  well 
adapted  to  orcharding,  while  still  others  can  be  made  into  excellent  pastures 
provided  limestone  can  be  applied.  The  slopes  which  are  not  so  steep  as  to 
present  too  difficult  erosion  problems  may  be  farmed  successfully  if  constant 
attention  is  given  to  controlling  erosion.  The  results  secured  on  the  Vienna 
experiment  field  (see  page  51  of  the  Supplement)  may  be  taken  as  an  indica- 
tion of  the  success  which  will  follow  the  use  of  limestone  and  good  farming 
methods.  This  land,  when  treated  with  limestone,  is  particularly  well  adapted 
to  hay,  either  clover  or  mixed  clover  and  timothy.  It  also  grows  excellent  cow- 
peas  and  fair  wheat.  It  is  not  adapted  to  corn.  The  results  from  the  Vienna 
field  do  not  indicate  that  either  rock  phosphate  or  acid  phosphate  will  be  profit- 
able on  this  soil  when  manure  also  is  applied.  No  information  is  available  as 
to  whether  either  of  these  phosphates  could  be  used  profitably  with  a  good  rota- 
tion, including  clover,  when  manure  is  not  used. 

Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay  (332) 
Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay  is  one  of  the  poorest  upland  types 
in  the  county.     It  occupies  only  2.8  square  miles,  occurring  in  the  flat,  poorly 


JH26~\  Saline  County  17 

drained,  timbered  areas  in  the  glaciated  portion  of  the  county.  It  is  commonly 
referred  to  as  "post  oak  or  hickory  flats,"  because  post  oak  and  hickory  trees 
grow  in  abundance  on  the  land.  This  type  is  too  flat  for  proper  surface  drain- 
age, the  subsoil  is  so  tight  that  underdrainage  is  impossible,  and  organic  matter 
is  deficient.  It  has  a  profile  similar  to  that  of  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay, 
but  differs  from  it  in  that  the  surface  and  gray  layer  are  lighter  in  color  and 
better  developed,  and  that  the  B  horizon  or  "tight  clay,"  is  less  yellow  and 
appears  to  be  more  plastic  and  impervious. 

The  A,  horizon,  or  surface  soil,  of  Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay, 
0  to  5  inches,  is  a  friable,  light  yellowish  gray  silt  loam.  The  A2  horizon,  or 
subsurface  soil,  5  to  23  inches,  is  a  friable,  mealy,  light  gray  silt  loam.  The 
B,  horizon,  or  upper  subsoil,  23  to  3G  inches,  is  a  gray  clay  mottled  with  light 
yellow.  The  C  horizon,  or  lower  subsoil,  below  36  inches,  is  a  slightly  compact, 
well-mottled,  yellowish  gray  silt  loam.  The  till  is  encountered  at  an  average 
depth  of  6  feet.  The  low  organic-matter  content  of  this  type  makes  it  run  to- 
gether during  heavy  rains.  The  soil  works  fairly  well  when  moist  but  bakes 
very  hard  on  drying.  The  surface  is  somewhat  porous  and  incoherent.  Hydrated 
iron  oxide  concretions  are  usually  found  in  abundance  on  this  soil  type. 

Management. — Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay  is  strongly  acid  and 
very  low  in  nitrogen  and  organic  matter.  It  is  not  a  good  general  farm  soil 
because  of  unfavorable  moisture  conditions  resulting  from  its  highly  impervious 
nature. 

Results  obtained  on  the  Sparta  experiment  field  which  is  located,  for  the 
most  part,  on  Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay,  indicate  that  limestone  is 
essential  on  this  type.  Manure  when  used  alone  causes  but  little  increase  in 
yield,  but  limestone  and  manure  together,  or  limestone  and  crop  residues,  cause 
;i  sufficient  increase  in  yield  to  return  a  profit  on  the  money  invested  in  lime- 
stone. Neither  rock  phosphate  nor  potash  caused  sufficient  increase  in  yield 
to  pay  for  their  cost.  See  page  47  of  the  Supplement  for  further  discussion  of 
the  Sparta  experiment  field. 

Attention  should  be  called  to  the  fact  that  the  areas  of  this  soil  type  in 
Saline  county  are  flat,  while  the  Sparta  field  has  sufficient  slope  so  that  good 
surface  drainage  can  be  provided.  This  difference  in  topography  suggests  that 
the  Saline  county  areas  will  not  respond  to  any  treatment  so  well  as  the  Sparta 
field  does.  Further,  it  is  questionable  whether  an  attempt  should  be  made  to 
use  this  type  for  general  farming.  The  gross  returns,  even  under  the  best  treat- 
ment, are  small.  It  is  suggested  that  it  be  used  either  for  apples  or  for  pasture 
with  sweet  clover  as  the  pasture  crop. 

TERRACE  SOILS 

The  terrace  soils  of  Saline  county  occur  either  as  bench  land  along  stream 
valleys,  or  just  above' overflow  in  the  valley  itself.  The  bench-land  terraces 
were  formed  chiefly  by  the  deposition  of  silt  washed  down  from  the  surround- 
ing upland,  mixed  with  some  alluvial  deposit  carried  in  many  years  ago.  Swollen 
and  overloaded  streams  caused  by  the  melting  of  the  glacier,  and  subsequent 
heavy  rains,  flooded  the  valleys  and  filled  them  to  a  depth  of  10  feet  or  more 
with  an  alluvial  deposit.     Gradually  the  streams  cut  deeper  channels  thru  this 


18  Soil  Report  No.  33  [June, 

deposit,  leaving  parts  of  it  above  overflow.  These  parts  are  known  as  terraces 
or  second  bottoms.  In  Saline  county  there  is  but  a  single  terrace  type,  Deep 
Gray  Silt  Loam  (1531),  and  it  occupies  22.77  square  miles. 

Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam  (1531) 
Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam,  Terrace,  is  found  for  the  most  part  along  small 
creeks,  and  is  rather  generally  distributed  over  the  county.  A  few  areas  in- 
cluded in  this  type  overflow  in  exceptionally  high  water.  Not  enough  deposit 
is  left,  however,  to  change  the  soil,  as  most  of  the  water  rises  from  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  and  is  gone  in  a  few  hours.  The  soil  profile  of  this  type  is  in 
various  stages  of  development,  depending  primarily  upon  the  length  of  time 
which  has  elapsed  since  the  deposition  of  the  soil  material.  In  general,  the  forma- 
tion is  relatively  young  in  comparison  with  the  mature  upland.  The  more 
mature  profile  has  the  following  description:  the  Ax  horizon,  or  surface  soil, 
0  to  4  inches,  is  a  friable,  yellowish  gray  silt  loam;  the  A2  horizon,  or  subsur- 
face soil,  4  to  18  inches,  is  a  friable,  light  gray  silt  loam;  the  B  horizon,  or 
upper  subsoil,  18  to  24  inches,  is  a  compact,  somewhat  plastic,  gray  clay  loam. 
Often  this  layer  is  only  partially  developed.  The  younger  soils  which  have  no 
horizons  developed  are  predominantly  gray  in  color  and  silty  in  texture. 

Management. — Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam,  Terrace,  varies  somewhat  in  lime 
requirement  depending  on  whether  it  is  subject  to  overflow.  Those  portions 
of  the  type  which  are  overflowed  at  least  once  a  year  are  either  neutral  or  only 
slightly  acid  in  the  surface  soil.  The  non-overflow  portions  of  the  type  are 
usually  medium  acid  in  the  surface.  The  subsoil  of  both  the  overflow  and  non- 
overflow  portions  is  more  strongly  acid  than  the  surface  soil.  This  type  is 
one  of  the  best  soils  in  Saline  county.  It  needs  lime,  as  indicated  above,  and  is 
low  in  organic  matter  and  nitrogen.  No  special  treatment  is  advised  at  the 
present  time  other  than  attention  to  drainage,  the  use  of  limestone  in  such 
amounts  as  tests  show  are  needed,  and  the  use  of  leguminous  crops,  together 
with  all  the  manure  available. 

OLD  SWAMP  AND  BOTTOM-LAND  SOILS 
The  most  fertile  land  in  Saline  county  is  found  in  the  broad,  flat  valleys. 
Most  of  it  is  an  alluvial  formation  and  is  largely  subject  to  overflow.  Each 
overflow  brings  in  some  new  deposit  which  serves  continually  to  enrich  the  soil. 
The  overflows  do  some  damage  to  property,  especially  to  growing  crops,  but 
they  do  not  cause  extensive  damage  as  they  usually  occur  in  early  spring  before 
the  land  is  prepared  for  crops,  and  recede  quickly.  This  group  of  soils  found 
in  the  valleys  includes  the  bottom  land  along  streams,  the  swamps,  and  the 
poorly  drained  lowlands.  Drainage  is  the  most  important  factor  in  the  use  of 
this  land  for  agricultural  purposes.  In  wet  seasons  water  stands  in  all  the  low 
spots  and  on  the  level  land,  so  saturating  the  soil  for  extended  periods  that  plant 
development  is  seriously  hampered.  Dredging  and  tiling  have  relieved  the 
condition  in  some  areas.    More  of  this  work  could  profitably  be  done. 

This  group  of  soils  is  divided  into  five  types  which  cover  an  area  of  137.13 
square  miles,  or  about  35  percent  of  the  total  area  of  the  county. 


1926]  Saline  County  19 

Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam  (1331) 

Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam  is  the  common  bottom-land  soil  of  southern  Illinois. 
It  is  generally  distributed  over  this  county  and  occupies  areas  varying  in  width 
from  a  few  rods  to  more  than  a  mile.  It  usually  forms  the  overflow  land  im- 
mediately adjacent  to  streams.  It  overflows  several  times  almost  every  year, 
and  often  receives  a  slight  deposit  of  new  material.  Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam, 
Bottom,  covers  an  area  of  70.2  square  miles. 

A  soil  which  is  continually  receiving  new  deposit  is  not  uniform,  has  no 
well-defined  horizons,  and  is  spoken  of  as  a  young  soil.  Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam, 
Bottom,  is  a  young  soil  and,  as  it  varies  considerably  thruout  its  area,  can  be 
described  only  in  general  terms. 

The  surface  soil,  averaging  about  6  inches  but  varying  from  2  to  12  inches, 
is  a  friable,  light  yellowish  gray  silt  loam.  The  areas  near  the  present  stream 
channels  sometimes  contain  an  appreciable  amount  of  fine  sand  to  a  depth  of 
4  or  5  inches.  Below  the  surface  the  soil  is  a  friable,  mealy,  light  gray  silt  loam. 
Areas  which  do  not  receive  frequent  deposits  have  developed  a  compact,  silty 
clay  horizon  2  or  3  inches  thick  which  lies  about  20  inches  below  the  surface. 

Management. — Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam,  Bottom,  is  a  productive  soil  when  the 
moisture  conditions  are  such  as  to  allow  the  normal  growth  of  crops.  The  first 
considerations  in  its  management  are  protection  against  overflow  and  provision 
for  drainage.    Both  of  these  call  for  cooperative  action. 

The  acidity  of  this  type  varies,  depending  on  location  with  reference  to 
the  hilly  region  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county.  The  tributaries  flowing 
out  of  this  hilly  region,  in  which  a  few  limestone  outcrops  occur,  apparently 
carry  sufficient  lime  in  solution  to  affect  the  reaction  of  the  bottoms  subject  to 
overflow  by  their  waters.  These  bottom  lands  vary  from  slight  to  medium  in 
acidity,  while  the  bottoms  which  receive  overflow  from  the  glaciated  region 
to  the  north  vary  from  medium  to  strong  in  acidity. 

After  the  overflow  problem  has  been  taken  care  of,  it  is  suggested  that 
limestone  be  applied  in  accordance  with  the  need  as  shown  by  tests,  and  that 
clover  be  grown  as  a  source  of  nitrogen  and  organic  matter,  in  both  of  which 
this  soil  is  deficient.  No  mineral  fertilizer  treatment  is  advised  at  present,  ex- 
cept on  a  trial  basis. 

Mixed  Loam  (1354) 

Mixed  Loam  has  been  mapped  in  the  bottom  lands  of  the  smaller  streams, 
principally  in  the  unglaciated  area  of  the  county.  This  type  of  soil  is  variable 
as  to  texture  and  composition,  is  subject  to  frequent  overflow,  and  often  the 
surface  material  is  changed  after  a  heavy  rain.  The  type  occupies  11.59  square 
miles. 

Mixed  Loam  is  the  youngest  soil  in  the  county  and  has  no  true  profile 
development.  The  surface  soil  is  usually  yellow  in  color.  It  is  mostly  silt  but 
contains  some  coarse  and  fine  sand.  At  about  20  inches  the  yellow  color  changes 
to  gray  and  very  seldom  is  there  much  sand  present.  Mixed  Loam  is  usually 
well  drained. 


20  Soil  Report  No.  33  [June, 

Management. — This  type  varies  in  degree  of  acidity.  It  is  a  productive 
soil,  easily  farmed  because  of  its  sand  content,  and  should  be  managed  in  the 
same  way  as  suggested  for  Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam,  Bottom. 

Drab  Clay  Loam  (1321) 

Drab  Clay.  Loam  occupies  the  low,  flat,  and  swampy  land  in  the  preglacial 
valleys,  covering  an  area  of  30.17  square  miles.  It  overflows  each  year,  the 
water  forming  shallow  ponds  which  do  not  dry  up  until  summer.  It  is  an 
alluvial  soil  formed  thru  the  deposition  of  the  finer  particles  in  back  water  or 
in  water  without  current. 

The  surface  soil  to  a  depth  of  4  to  6  inches  is  a  plastic,  black  or  dark  drab 
clay  loam.  Often  an  inch  or  so  of  silt  is  found  on  the  surface,  owing  to  a  recent 
deposit.  Below  this  to  a  depth  of  18  to  20  inches  a  heavy,  plastic,  grayish  drab 
clay  is  found.  Below  20  inches  the  soil  changes  to  a  very  plastic,  grayish  yellow 
clay. 

Management. — Drab  Clay  Loam  is  usually  not  acid,  owing  to  frequent  over- 
flow. It  is  productive,  but  because  of  its  heavy  texture  is  not  so  easily  farmed 
as  the  two  preceding  types.  Tile,  if  installed,  should  probably  be  put  not  over 
4  rods  apart  and  30  inches  deep ;  thus  installed,  they  would  eliminate  the  open 
ditches  which  are  now  used  to  remove  excess  water.  It  is  particularly  important 
to  maintain  a  good  supply  of  fresh  organic  matter  in  this  soil,  as  it  tends  easily 
to  get  into  poor  physical  condition.  The  best  utilization  of  this  land  requires 
that  it  be  protected  from  flood  water.  After  this  protection  has  been  afforded, 
then  the  nitrogen  and  organic  matter  needs  of  the  soil  may  be  met  by  growing 
clover  at  regular  intervals,  limestone  may  be  applied  as  it  becomes  necessary, 
and  tile  may  be  installed  as  time  and  other  considerations  permit. 

Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Clay  (1334.1) 
Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Clay  occupies  an  area  about  a  mile  wide  along 
each  side  of  the  two  main  tributaries  of  Saline  river,  and  is  found  in  smaller 
areas  near  Rector  creek.  The  soil  is  of  alluvial  formation,  slightly  higher  than 
the  surrounding  land,  and  not  subject  to  such  frequent  overflow  as  Mixed  Loam 
and  Drab  Clay  Loam.  Water  never  remains  on  this  type  for  any  length  of 
time,  and  very  seldom  is  there  any  deposit  left.  The  land  has  been  heavily 
covered  with  timber,  chiefly  oak,  for  many  years.  This  type  covers  an  area  of 
16.21  square  miles. 

The  Ax  horizon,  or  surface  soil,  0  to  4  inches,  is  a  friable  silt  loam,  brownish 
gray  or  yellowish  brown  as  the  type  approaches  Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay 
or  Drab  Clay  Loam,  and  yellowish  gray  on  the  tops  of  the  low  ridges  and  near 
the  stream  channels.  The  A2  horizon,  or  subsurface  soil,  4  to  16  inches,  is  a 
slightly  compact,  yellowish  gray  clayey  silt  loam.  The  B  horizon,  or  subsoil 
below  16  inches,  is  a  very  compact,  plastic,  yellow  clay. 

Management. — Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Clay  varies  considerably  in  pro- 
ductive capacity  depending  on  its  topographic  position.  The  flat  areas  have 
a  more  impervious  subsoil  than  the  undulating  areas  and  are  less  productive. 
This  type  is  strongly  acid  and  is  low  in  nitrogen  and  organic  matter.     Three 


19£6]  Saline  County  21 

to  four  tons  of  limestone  per  acre  should  be  applied,  and  clover  grown  at  fre- 
quent intervals.  After  this  has  been  done,  trial  should  be  made  of  one  or  more 
of  the  phosphates  with  particular  reference  to  wheat,  and  it  would  also  be  well 
to  try  one  of  the  potash  salts  for  corn  applied  at  the  rate  of  about  100  pounds 
an  acre. 

Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay  (1326.1) 

Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay,  when  properly  drained  and  cared  for,  is  the 
most  fertile  land  in  the  county.  It  is  found  chiefly  along  Rector  creek  in  Plain- 
view  township  (Township  7  South,  Range  7  East).  Smaller  areas  occur  as 
slight  knolls  in  the  large  areas  of  Drab  Clay  Loam.    It  covers  8.96  square  miles. 

The  Ax  horizon,  or  surface  soil,  0  to  8  inches,  is  a  friable,  grayish  brown 
to  black,  heavy  silt  loam.  The  A2  horizon,  or  subsurface  soil,  8  to  16  inches, 
is  a  slightly  compact,  plastic,  silty  clay  loam.  The  B  horizon,  or  subsoil,  16  to 
24  inches,  is  a  compact,  plastic,  brownish  yellow  clay.  The  C  horizon,  or  lower 
subsoil,  below  24  inches,  is  a  compact,  plastic,  yellow  clay. 

Management. — Brown  Silt  Loam  On  Clay  usually  is  not  acid,  and  is  fairly 
well  supplied  with  organic  matter.  Clover,  as  a  source  of  nitrogen  and  fresh 
organic  matter,  should  be  grown  at  frequent  intervals.  If  this  is  done,  it  is 
questionable  whether  any  fertilizing  materials  can  be  used  at  the  present  time 
at  a  profit,  excepting,  of  course,  farm  manure,  which  should  always  be  care- 
fully conserved  and  returned  to  the  land. 

RESIDUAL  SOILS 
Residual  soils  are  confined  entirely  to  the  unglaciated  region.  They  are  of 
little  agricultural  value  as  they  cannot  be  cropped  with  any  success.  Their 
topography  is  extremely  rough  and  they  can,  no  doubt,  be  most  economically 
utilized  by  growing  timber.  Some  areas  may  be  used  as  pasture,  and  where 
limestone  is  the  outcropping  rock,  it  may  serve  as  a  source  of  material  to  sweeten 
sour  or  acid  soil.    This  group  of  soils  covers  an  area  of  13.02  square  miles. 

Stony  Loam  (098) 
Stony  Loam  occupies  the  steep  slopes  and  gullies  where  erosion  has  removed 
most  or  all  of  the  loess  and  residual  soil  material.  The  stones  vary  from  a  few 
inches  to  several  feet  in  diameter  and  lie  thick  on  the  ground.  This  soil  type 
comprizes  12.45  square  miles.  It  is  of  little  agricultural  value,  its  only  use, 
aside  from  the  growing  of  timber,  being  for  pasture. 

Rock  Outcrop  (099) 
Rock  Outcroj)  is  not  considered  a  type  of  soil,  for  it  is  merely  the  exposure 
of  rocks  on  the  surface.  These  rocks  occur  most  often  as  perpendicular  ledges,  the 
horizontal  width  of  which  is  often  exaggerated  on  the  soil  map  in  order  to  show 
the  boundary  lines.  The  outcrops  are  chiefly  sandstone;  limestone  is  exposed  in 
deep  ravines  and  at  the  base  of  bluffs  but  is  always  capped  by  sand  stone.  This 
limestone  may  be  crushed,  ground,  and  used  to  correct  the  acidity  of  sour  soils. 


APPENDIX 

EXPLANATIONS  FOR  INTERPRETING  THE  SOIL  SURVEY 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  SOILS 

In  order  intelligently  to  interpret  the  soil  maps,  the  reader  must  under- 
stand something  of  the  method  of  soil  classification  upon  which  the  survey  is 
based.  Without  going  far  into  details  the  following  paragraphs  are  intended 
to  furnish  a  brief  explanation  of  the  general  plan  of  classification  used. 

The  soil  type  is  the  unit  of  classification.  Each  type  has  definite  charac- 
teristics upon  which  its  separation  from  other  types  is  based.  These  character- 
istics are  inherent  in  the  strata,  or  "horizons,"  which  constitute  the  soil  profile 
in  all  mature  soils.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned  color,  structure,  texture, 
and  chemical  composition.  Other  items  which  may  assist  in  the  differentiation 
of  types,  but  which  are  not  fundamental  to  it,  are  native  vegetation  (whether 
timber  or  prairie),  topography,  and  geological  origin  and  formation. 

Since  some  of  the  terms  used  in  designating  the  factors  which  are  taken 
into  account  in  establishing  soil  types  are  technical  in  nature,  the  following  defi- 
nitions are  introduced: 

Horizon.  A  layer  or  stratum  of  soil  which  differs  discernibly  from  those  adjacent  in 
color,  texture,  structure,  chemical  composition,  or  a  combination  of  these  characteristics,  is 
called  an  horizon.  In  describing  a  matured  soil,  three  horizons  designated  as  A,  B,  and  C 
are  usually  considered. 

A  designates  the  upper  horizon  and,  as  developed  under  the  conditions  of  a  humid,  tem- 
perate climate,  represents  the  layer  of  extraction  or  eluviation;  that  is  to  say,  material  in 
solution  or  in  suspension  has  passed  out  of  this  zone  thru  the  processes  of  weathering. 

B  represents  the  layer  of  concentration  or  illuviation ;  that  is,  the  layer  developed  as  a 
result  of  the  accumulation  of  material  thru  the  downward  movement  of  water  from  the  A 
horizon. 

C  designates  the  layer  lying  below  the  B  horizon  and  in  which  the  material  has  been  less 
affected  by  the  weathering  processes. 

Frequently  differences  within  these  strata  or  zones  are  discernible,  in  which  case  they 
are  subdivided  and  described  under  such  designations  as  Aj  and  A2,  Bi  and  B2,  etc. 

Soil  Profile.     The  soil  section  as  a  whole  is  spoken  of  as  the  soil  profile. 

Depth  and  Thickness.  The  horizons  or  layers  which  make  up  the  soil  profile  vary  in 
depth  and  thickness.  These  variations  are  distinguishing  features  in  the  separation  of  soils 
into  types. 

Physical  Composition.  The  physical  composition,  sometimes  referred  to  as  "texture," 
is  a  most  important  feature  in  characterizing  a  soil.  The  texture  depends  upon  the  rela- 
tive proportions  of  the  following  physical  constituents:  clay,  silt,  fine  sand,  sand,  gravel, 
stones,  and  organic  material. 

Structure.  The  term  "structure"  has  reference  to  the  aggregation  of  particles  within 
the  soil  mass  and  carries  such  qualifying  terms  as  open,  granular,  compact,  columnar,  laminated. 

Organic-Matter  Content.  The  organic  matter  of  soil  is  derived  largely  from  plant 
tissue  and  it  exists  in  a  more  or  less  advanced  stage  of  decomposition.  Organic  matter 
forms  the  predominating  constituent  in  certain  soils  of  swampy  formation. 

Color.  Color  is  determined  to  a  large  extent  by  the  proportion  of  organic  matter,  but 
at  the- same  time  it  is  modified  by  the  mineral  constituents,  especially  by  iron  compounds. 

Reaction.  The  term  "reaction"  refers  to  the  chemical  state  of  the  soil  with  respect 
to  acid  or  alkaline  condition.  It  also  involves  the  idea  of  degree,  as  strongly  acid  or 
strongly   alkaline. 

Carbonate  Content.  The  carbonate  content  has  reference  to  the  calcium  carbonate 
•(limestone)  present,  which  in  some  cases  may  be  associated  with  magnesium  or  other  car- 
bonates. The  depth  at  which  carbonates  are  found  may  become  a  very  important  factor 
in  determining  the  soil  type. 

Topography.  Topography  has  reference  to  the  lay  of  the  land,  as  level,  rolling, 
hilly,  etc. 

22 


l'j£6\  Saline  County  23 

Native  Vegetation.  The  vegetation  or  plant  growth  before  being  disturbed  by  man, 
as  prairie  grasses  and  forest  trees,  is  a  feature  frequently  recognized  as  determining  soil 
types. 

Geological  Origin.  Geological  origin  involves  the  idea  of  character  of  rock  materials 
composing  the  soil  as  well  as  the  method  of  formation  of  the  soil  material. 

Not  infrequently  areas  are  encountered  in  which  type  characters  are  not 
distinctly  developed  or  in  which  they  show  considerable  variation.  When  these 
variations  are  considered  to  have  sufficient  significance,  type  separations  are 
made  whenever  the  areas  involved  are  sufficiently  large.  Because  of  the  almost 
infinite  variability  occurring  in  soils,  one  of  the  exacting  tasks  of  the  soil  sur- 
veyor is  to  determine  the  degree  of  variation  which  is  allowable  for  any  given 
type. 

Classifying  Soil  Types. — In  the  system  of  classification  used,  the  types  fall 
first  into  four  general  groups  based  upon  their  geological  relationships ;  namely, 
upland,  terrace,  swamp  and  bottom  land,  and  residual.  These  groups  may  be 
subdivided  into  prairie  soils  and  timber  soils,  altho  as  a  matter  of  fact  this  sub- 
division is  applied  in  the  main  only  to  the  upland  group.  These  terms  are  all 
explained  in  the  foregoing  part  of  the  report  in  connection  with  the  description 
of  the  particular  soil  types. 

Naming  and  Numbering  Soil  Types. — In  the  Illinois  soil  survey  a  system 
of  nomenclature  is  used  which  is  intended  to  make  the  type  name  convey  some 
idea  of  the  nature  of  the  soil.  Thus  the  name  "Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam"  car- 
ries in  itself  a  more  or  less  definite  description  of  the  type.  It  should  not  be 
assumed,  however,  that  this  system  of  nomenclature  makes  it  possible  to  devise 
type  names  which  are  adequately  descriptive,  because  the  profile  of  mature 
soils  is  usually  made  up  of  four  or  more  horizons  and  it  is  impossible  to  describe 
each  horizon  in  the  type  name.  The  color  and  texture  of  the  surface  soil  are 
usually  included  in  the  type  name  and  when  material  such  as  sand,  gravel,  or  rock 
lies  at  a  depth  of  less  than  30  inches,  the  fact  is  indicated  by  the  word  "  on, "  and 
when  its  depth  exceeds  30  inches,  by  the  word  ' '  over ' ' ;  for  example,  Brown 
Silt  Loam  On  Gravel,  and  Brown  Silt  Loam  Over  Gravel. 

As  a  further  step  in  systematizing  the  listing  of  the  soils  of  Illinois,  recog- 
nition is  given  to  the  location  of  the  types  with  respect  to  the  geological  areas 
in  which  they  occur.  According  to  a  geological  survey  made  many  years  ago, 
the  state  has  been  divided  into  seventeen  areas  with  respect  to  geological  forma- 
tion and,  for  the  purposes  of  the  soil  survey,  each  of  these  areas  has  been  as- 
signed an  index  number.  The  names  of  the  areas  together  with  their  general 
location  and  their  corresponding  index  numbers  are  given  in  the  following  list. 

000     Residual,  soils  formed  in  place  thru  disintegration  of  rocks,  and  also  rock  outcrop 

100     Unglaciated,  including  three  areas,  the  largest  being  in  the  south  end  of  the  state 

200     Illimoisan  moraines,  including  the  moraines  of  tho  Illinoisan  glaciations 

300     Lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  covering  nearly  the  south  third  of  the  state 

£00     Middle  Illinoisan  glaciation,  covering  about  a  dozen  counties  in  the  west-central  part 

of  the  state 
500     Upper  Illinoisan  glaciation,  covering  about  fourteen  counties  northwest  of  the  middle 

Illinoisan  glaciation 
600     Pre-Iowan  glaciation,  but  now  believed  to  be  part  of  the  upper  Illinoisan 
700     Iowan  glaciation,  lying  in  the  central  northern  end  of  the  state 
800     Deep  loess  areas,  including  a  zone  a  few  miles  wide  along  the  Wabash,  Illinois,  and 

Mississippi  rivers 
900     Early  Wisconsin  moraines,  including  the  moraines  of  the  early  "Wisconsin  glaciation 
1000     Late  Wisconsin  moraines,  including  the  moraines  of  the  late  Wisconsin  glaciation 


24  "         Soil  Report  No.  33:    Appendix  [June, 

1100  Early  Wisconsin  glaciation,  covering  the  greater  part  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 

state 

1200  Late  Wisconsin,  glaciation,  lying  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  state 

1300  Old  river-bottom  and  swamp  lands,  found  in  the  older  or  Illinoisan  glaciation 

1400  Late  river-bottom  and  swamp  lands,  those  of  the  Wisconsin  and  Iowan  glaciations 

1500  Terraces,  bench  or  second  bottom  lands,  and  gravel  outwash  plains 

1600  Lacustrine  deposits,  formed  by  Lake  Chicago,  the  enlarged  glacial  Lake  Michigan 

Further  information  regarding  these  geological  areas  is  given  in  connection 
with  the  general  map  mentioned  above  and  published  in  Bulletin  123  (1908). 

Another  set  of  index  numbers  is  assigned  to  the  classes  of  soils  as  based 

upon  physical  composition.    The  following  list  contains  the  names  of  these  classes 

with  their  corresponding  index  numbers. 

Index   Number   Limits  Class   Names 

0  .to     9 Peats 

10  to  12 Peaty  loams 

13  to  14 Mucks 

15  to  19 Clays 

20  to  24 Clay  loams 

25  to  49 Silt   loams 

50  to  59 Loams 

60  to  79 Sandy  loams 

80  to  89 Sands 

90  to  94 Gravelly  loams 

95  to  97 Gravels 

98 Stony  loams 

99 Rock  outcrop 

As  a  convenient  means  of  designating  types  and  their  location  with  respect 
to  the  geological  areas  of  the  state,  each  type  is  given  a  number  made  up  of 
a  combination  of  the  index  numbers  explained  above.  This  number  indicates 
the  type  and  the  geological  area  in  which  it  occurs.  The  geological  area  is  always 
indicated  by  the  digits  of  the  order  of  hundreds  while  the  balance  of  the  num- 
ber designates  the  type.  To  illustrate :  the  number  1126  means  Brown  Silt  Loam 
in  the  early  Wisconsin  glaciation,  434  means  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  of  the  mid- 
dle Illinoisan  glaciation.  These  numbers  are  especially  useful  in  designating 
very  small  areas  on  the  map  and  as  a  check  in  reading  the  colors. 

A  complete  list  of  the  soil  types  occurring  in  each  county,  along  with  their 
corresponding  type  numbers  and  the  area  covered  by  each  type,  will  be  found 
in  the  respective  county  soil  reports  in  connection  with  the  maps. 

SOIL  SURVEY  METHODS 

Mapping  of  Soil  Types. — In  conducting  the  soil  survey,  the  county  consti- 
tutes the  unit  of  working  area.  The  field  work  is  done  by  parties  of  two  to  four 
men  each.  The  field  season  extends  from  early  in  April  to  Thanksgiving.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  months  the  men  are  engaged  in  preparing  a  copy  of  the  soil  map 
to  be  sent  to  the  lithographer,  a  copy  for  the  use  of  the  county  farm  adviser  until 
the  printed  map  is  available,  and  a  third  copy  for  use  in  the  office  in  order  to 
preserve  the  original  official  map  in  good  condition. 

An  accurate  base  map  for  field  use  is  necessary  for  soil  mapping.  These 
maps  are  prepared  on  a  scale  of  one  inch  to  the  mile,  the  official  data  of  the 
original  or  subsequent  land  survey  being  used  as  the  basis  in  their  construction. 
Each  surveyor  is  provided  with  one  of  these  base  maps,  which  he  carries  with 
him  in  the  field ;  and  the  soil  type  boundaries,  together  with  the  streams,  roads, 
railroads,  canals,  town  sites,  and  rock  and  gravel  quarries  are  placed  in  their 


1026]  Saline  County  25 

proper  location  upon  the  map  while  the  mapper  is  on  the  area.  With  the  rapid 
development  of  road  improvement  during  the  past  few  years,  it  is  almost  in- 
evitable that  some  recently  established  roads  will  not  appear  on  the  published 
soil  map.  Similarly,  changes  in  other  artificial  features  will  occasionally  occur 
in  the  interim  between  the  preparation  of  the  map  and  its  publication.  The 
detail  or  minimum  size  of  areas  which  are  shown  on  the  map  varies  somewhat, 
but  in  general  a  soil  type  if  less  than  five  acres  in  extent  is  not  shown. 

A  soil  auger  is  carried  by  each  man  with  which  he  can  examine  the  soil  to 
a  depth  of  40  inches.  An  extension  for  making  the  auger  80  inches  long  is  taken 
by  each  party,  so  that  the  deeper  subsoil  may  be  studied.  Each  man  carries  a 
compass  to  aid  in  keeping  directions.  Distances  along  roads  are  measured  by 
a  speedometer  or  other  measuring  device,  while  distances  in  the  field  away  from 
the  roads  are  measured  by  pacing. 

Sampling  for  Analysis. — After  all  the  soil  types  of  a  county  have  been 
located  and  mapped,  samples  representative  of  the  different  types  are  collected 
for  chemical  analysis.  The  samples  for  this  purpose  are  usually  taken  in  three 
depths ;  namely,  0  to  6%  inches,  6%  to  20  inches,  and  20  to  40  inches,  as 
explained  in  connection  with  the  discussion  of  the  analytical  data  on  page  7. 

PRINCIPLES  OF  SOIL  FERTILITY 

Probably  no  agricultural  fact  is  more  generally  known  by  farmers  and  land- 
owners than  that  soils  differ  in  productive  power.  A  fact  of  equal  importance, 
not  so  generally  recognized,  is  that  they  also  differ  in  other  characteristics  such 
as  response  to  fertilizer  treatment  and  to  management. 

The  soil  is  a  dynamic,  ever-changing,  exceedingly  complex  substance  made 
up  of  organic  and  inorganic  materials  and  teeming  with  life  in  the  form  of 
microorganisms.  Because  of  these  characteristics,  the  soil  cannot  be  considered 
as  a  reservoir  into  which  a  given  quantity  of  an  element  or  elements  of  plant 
food  can  be  poured  with  the  assurance  that  it  will  respond  with  a  given  increase 
in  crop  yield.  In  a  similar  manner  it  cannot  be  expected  to  respond  with  per- 
fect uniformity  to  a  given  set  of  management  standards.  To  be  productive  a  soil 
must  be  in  such  condition  physically  with  respect  to  structure  and  moisture  as 
to  encourage  root  development;  and  in  such  condition  chemically  that  injurious 
substances  are  not  present  in  harmful  amounts,  that  a  sufficient  supply  of  the 
elements  of  plant  food  become  available  or  usable  during  the  growing  season, 
and  that  lime  materials  are  present  in  sufficient  abundance  favorable  for  the 
growth  of  the  higher  plants  and  of  the  beneficial  microorganisms.  Good  soil 
management  under  humid  conditions  involves  the  adoption  of  those  tillage,  crop- 
ping, and  fertilizer  treatment  methods  which  will  result  in  profitable  and  per- 
manent crop  production  on  the  soil  type  concerned. 

The  following  paragraphs  are  intended  to  state  in  a  brief  way  some  of  the 
principles  of  soil  management  and  treatment  which  are  fundamental  to  profitable 
and  continued  productivity. 

CROP  REQUIREMENTS  WITH  RESPECT  TO  PLANT-FOOD  MATERIALS 
Ten  of  the  chemical  elements  are  known  to  be  essential  for  the  growth  of 
the  higher  plants.     These  are  carbon,  "hydrogen,  oxygen,  nitrogen,  phosphorus, 


26 


Soil  Report  No.  33:    Appendix 
Table  5. — Plant-Food  Elements  in  Common  Farm  Crops1 


[June, 


Produce 

Nitrogen 

Phos- 
phorus 

Sulfur 

Potas- 
sium 

Magne- 
sium 

Calcium 

Iron 

Kind 

Amount 

Wheat,  grain 

Wheat  straw 

Corn  stover 

Corn  cobs 

Oat  straw 

1  bu. 
1  ton 

1  bu. 
1  ton 
1  ton 

1  bu. 
1  ton 

lbu. 
1  ton 

1  bu. 
1  ton 

1  ton 

lbs. 
1.42 
10.00 

1.00 

16.00 

4.00 

.66 
12.40 

1.75 
40.00 

3.22 
43.40 

52.08 

lbs. 

.24 
1.60 

.17 
2.00 

.11 
2.00 

.50 
5.00 

.39 
4.74 

4.76 

lbs. 

.10 
2.80 

.08 
2.42 

.06 
4.14 

3.28 

.27 
5.18 

5.96 

lbs. 

.26 
18.00 

.19 

17.33 

4.00 

.16 
20.80 

.75 
30.00 

1.26 
35.48 

16.64 

lbs. 

.08 
1.60 

.07 
3.33 

.04 
2.80 

.25 
7.75 

.15 
13.84 

8.00 

lbs. 

.02 
3.80 

.01 
7.00 

.02 
6.00 

.13 
29.25 

.14 
27.56 

22.26 

lbs. 
.01 
.60 

.01 
1.60 

.01 
1.12 

Clover  seed 

Soybean  seed 

Soybean  hay 

Alfalfa  hay 

1.00 

'These  data  are  brought  together  from  various  sources.  Some  allowance  must  be  made  for  the  exactness  of  the 
figures  because  samples  representing  the  same  kind  of  crop  or  the  same  kind  of  material  frequently  exhibit  considerable 
variation. 

sulfur,  potassium,  calcium,  magnesium,  and  iron.  Other  elements  are  absorbed 
from  the  soil  by  growing  plants,  including  manganese,  silicon,  sodium,  aluminum, 
chlorin,  and  boron.  It  is  probable  that  these  latter  elements  are  present  in 
plants  for  the  most  part,  not  because  they  are  required,  but  because  they  are 
dissolved  in  the  soil  water  and  the  plant  has  no  means  of  preventing  their  en- 
trance. There  is  some  evidence,  however,  which  indicates  that  certain  of  these 
elements,  notably  manganese,  silicon,  and  boron,  may  be  either  essential  but 
required  in  only  minute  quantities,  or  very  beneficial  to  plant  growth  under 
certain  conditions,  even  tho  not  essential.  Thus,  for  example,  manganese  has 
produced  marked  increases  in  crop  yields  on  heavily  limed  soils.  Sodium  also 
has  been  found  capable  of  partially  replacing  potassium  in  case  of  a  shortage 
of  the  latter  element 

Table  5  shows  the  requirements  of  some  of  our  most  common  field  crops 
with  respect  to  seven  important  plant-food  elements  furnished  by  the  soil.  The 
figures  show  the  weight  in  pounds  of  the  various  elements  contained  in  a  bushel 
or  in  a  ton,  as  the  case  may  be.  From  these  data  the  amount  of  an  element  re- 
moved from  an  acre  of  land  by  a  crop  of  a  given  yield  can  easily  be  computed. 

PLANT-FOOD  SUPPLY 

Of  the  elements  of  plant  food,  three  (carbon,  oxygen,  and  hydrogen)  are 
secured  from  air  and  water,  and  the  others  from  the  soil.  Nitrogen,  one  of  the 
elements  obtained  from  the  soil  by  all  plants,  may  also  be  secured  from  the 
air  by  the  class  of  plants  known  as  legumes,  in  case  the  amount  liberated  from 
the  soil  is  insufficient ;  but  even  these  plants,  which  include  only  the  clovers,  peas, 
beans,  and  vetches  among  our  common  agricultural  plants,  are  dependent  upon 
the  soil  for  the  other  six  elements  (phosphorus,  potassium,  magnesium,  calcium, 
iron,  and  sulfur),  and  they  also  utilize  the  soil  nitrogen  so  far  as  it  becomes 
soluble  and  available  during  their  period  of  growth. 


1 9  £6] 


Saline  County 


27 


Table  6. — Plant-Food  Elements  in  Manure,  Rough  Feeds,  and  Fertilizers' 

Material 

Pounds  of  plant  food 
of  material 

per  ton 

Nitrogen 

Phosphorus 

Potassium 

Fresh  farm  manure 

10 

16 
12 
10 

40 
43 
50 
80 

280 
310 
400 

80 
20 

2 

2 

2 
2 

5 
5 
4 
8 

180 
250 
250 
125 

10 

8 

Corn  stover 

17 

Oat  straw 

21 

Wheat  straw 

18 

Clover  hay 

30 

Cowpea  hay 

33 

Alfalfa  hay 

24 

Sweet  clover  (water-free  basis)2 

Dried  blood 

28 

Sodium  nitrate 

Ammonium  sulfate 

Raw  bone  meal 

Steamed  bone  meal 

Raw  rock  phosphate 

Acid  phosphate 

Potassium  chlorid 

850 

Potassium  sulfate 

850 

Kainit 

200 

Wood  ashes3  (unleached) 

100 

■See  footnote  to  Table  5. 

'Young  second  year's  growth  ready  to  plow  under  as  green  manure. 

•Wood  ashes  also  contain  about  1.000  pounds  of  lime  (calcium  carbonate)  per  ton. 

The  vast  difference  with  respect  to  the  supply  of  these  essential  plant-food 
elements  in  different  soils  is  well  brought  out  in  the  data  of  the  Illinois  soil 
survey.  For  example,  it  has  been  found  that  the  nitrogen  in  the  surface  6% 
inches,  which  represents  the  plowed  stratum,  varies  in  amount  from  180  pounds 
per  acre  to  more  than  35,000  pounds.  In  like  manner  the  phosphorus  content 
varies  from  about  420  to  4,900  pounds,  and  the  potassium  ranges  from  1,530 
to  about  58,000  pounds.  Similar  variations  are  found  in  all  of  the  other  essen- 
tial plant-food  elements  of  the  soil. 

With  these  facts  in  mind  it  is  easy  to  understand  how  a  deficiency  of  one 
of  these  elements  of  plant  food  may  become  a  limiting  factor  of  crop  production. 
When  an  element  becomes  so  reduced  in  quantity  as  to  become  a  limiting  factor 
of  production,  then  we  must  look  for  some  outside  source  of  supply.  Table  6 
is  presented  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  information  regarding  the  quantity 
of  some  of  the  more  important  plant-food  elements  contained  in  materials  most 
commonly  used  as  sources  of  supply. 

LIBERATION  OF  PLANT  FOOD 

The  chemical  analysis  of  the  soil  gives  the  invoice  of  plant-food  elements 
actually  present  in  the  soil  strata  sampled  and  analyzed,  but  the  rate  of  libera- 
tion is  governed  by  many  factors,  some  of  which  may  be  controlled  by  the  farmer, 
while  others  are  largely  beyond  his  control.  Chief  among  the  important  con- 
trollable factors  which  influence  the  liberation  of  plant  food  are  the  choice  of 
crops  to  be  grown,  the  use  of  limestone,  and  the  incorporation  of  organic  matter. 
Tillage,  especially  plowing,  also  has  a  considerable  effect  in  this  connection. 


28  Soil  Report  No.  33:    Appendix  [June, 

Feeding  Power  of  Plants. — Different  species  of  plants  exhibit  a  very  great 
diversity  in  their  ability  to  obtain  plant  food  directly  from  the  insoluble 
minerals  of  the  soil.  As  a  class,  the  legumes — especially  such  biennial  and 
perennial  legumes  as  red  clover,  sweet  clover,  and  alfalfa — are  endowed  with 
unusual  power  to  assimilate  from  mineral  sources  such  elements  as  calcium 
and  phosphorus,  converting  them  into  available  forms  for  the  crops  that  follow. 
For  this  reason  it  is  especially  advantageous  to  employ  such  legumes  in  connec- 
tion with  the  application  of  limestone  and  rock  phosphate.  Thru  their  growth 
and  subsequent  decay  large  quantities  of  the  mineral  elements  are  liberated  for 
the  benefit  of  the  cereal  crops  which  follow  in  the  rotation.  Moreover,  as  an 
effect  of  the  deep-rooting  habit  of  these  legumes,  mineral  plant-food  elements 
are  brought  up  and  rendered  available  from  the  vast  reservoirs  of  the  lower 
subsoil. 

Effect  of  Limestone. — Limestone  corrects  the  acidity  of  the  soil  and  supplies 
calcium,  thus  encouraging  the  development  not  only  of  the  nitrogen-gathering 
bacteria  which  live  in  the  nodules  on  the  roots  of  clover,  cowpeas,  and  other 
legumes,  but  also  the  nitrifying  bacteria,  which  have  power  to  transform  the 
unavailable  organic  nitrogen  into  available  nitrate  nitrogen.  At  the  same  time, 
the  products  of  this  decomposition  have  power  to  dissolve  the  minerals  contained 
in  the  soil,  such  as  potassium  and  magnesium  compounds. 

Organic  Matter  and  Biological  Action. — Organic  matter  may  be  supplied 
thru  animal  manures,  consisting  of  the  excreta  of  an.mals  and  usually  accom- 
panied by  more  or  less  stable  litter;  and  by  plant  manures,  including  green- 
manure  crops  and  cover  crops  plowed  under,  and  also  crop  residues  such  as  stalks, 
straw,  and  chaff.  The  rate  of  decay  of  organic  matter  depends  largely  upon  its 
age,  condition,  and  origin,  and  it  may  be  hastened  by  tillage.  The  chemical 
analysis  shows  correctly  the  total  organic  carbon,  which  constitutes,  as  a  rule, 
but  little  more  than  half  the  organic  matter;  so  that  20,000  pounds  of  organic 
carbon  in  the  plowed  soil  of  an  acre  corresponds  to  nearly  20  tons  of  organic 
matter.  But  this  organic  matter  consists  largely  of  the  old  organic  residues  that 
have  accumulated  during  the  past  centuries  because  they  were  resistant  to  decay, 
and  2  tons  of  clover  or  cowpeas  plowed  under  may  have  greater  power  to  liberate 
plant-food  materials  than  20  tons  of  old,  inactive  organic  matter.  The  history  of 
the  individual  farm  or  field  must  be  depended  upon  for  information  concerning 
recent  additions  of  active  organic  matter,  whether  in  applications  of  farm 
manure,  in  legume  crops,  or  in  sods  of  old  pastures. 

The  condition  of  the  organic  matter  of  the  soil  is  indicated  to  some  extent 
by  the  ratio  of  carbon  to  nitrogen.  Fresh  organic  matter  recently  incorporated 
with  the  soil  contains  a  very  much  higher  proportion  of  carbon  to  nitrogen  than 
do  the  old  resistant  organic  residues  of  the  soil.  The  proportion  of  carbon  to 
nitrogen  is  higher  in  the  surface  soil  than  in  the  corresponding  subsoil,  and  in 
general  this  ratio  is  wider  in  highly  productive  soils  well  charged  with  active 
organic  matter  than  in  very  old,  worn  soils  badly  in  need  of  active  organic  matter. 

The  organic  matter  furnishes  food  for  bacteria,  and  as  it  decays  certain 
decomposition  products  are  formed,  including  much  carbonic  acid,  some  nitrous 
acid,  and  various  organic  acids,  and  these  acting  upon  the  soil  have  the  power  to 
dissolve  the  essential  mineral  plant  foods,  thus  furnishing  available  phosphates, 


1926}  Saline  County  29 

nitrates,  and  other  salts  of  potassium,  magnesium,  calcium,  etc.,  for  the  use  of 
the  growing  crop. 

Effect  of  Tillage. — Tillage,  or  cultivation,  also  hastens  the  liberation  of  plant- 
food  elements  by  permitting  the  air  to  enter  the  soil.  It  should  be  remembered, 
however,  that  tillage  is  wholly  destructive,  in  that  it  adds  nothing  whatever  to 
the  soil,  but  always  leaves  it  poorer,  so  far  as  plant-food  materials  are  concerned. 
Tillage  should  be  practiced  so  far  as  is  necessary  to  prepare  a  suitable  seed  bed 
for  root  development  and  also  for  the  purpose  of  killing  weeds,  but  more  than 
this  is  unnecessary  and  unprofitable ;  and  it  is  much  better  actually  to  enrich 
the  soil  by  proper  applications  of  limestone,  organic  matter,  and  other  fertilizing 
materials,  and  thus  promote  soil  conditions  favorable  for  vigorous  plant  growth, 
than  to  depend  upon  excessive  cultivation  to  accomplish  the  same  object  at  the 
expense  of  the  soil. 

PERMANENT  SOIL  IMPROVEMENT 
According  to  the  kind  of  soil  involved,  any  comprehensive  plan  contemplat- 
ing a  permanent  system  of  agriculture  will  need  to  take  into  account  some  of 
the  following  considerations. 

The  Application  of  Limestone 

The  Function  of  Limestone. — In  considering  the  application  of  limestone 
to  land  it  should  be  understood  that  this  material  functions  in  several  different 
ways,  and  that  a  beneficial  result  may  therefore  be  attributable  to  quite  diverse 
causes.  Limestone  provides  calcium,  of  which  certain  crops  are  strong  feeders. 
It  corrects  acidity  of  the  soil,  thus  making  for  some  crops  a  much  more  favorable 
environment  as  well  as  establishing  conditions  absolutely  required  for  some  of 
the  beneficial  legume  bacteria.  It  accelerates  nitrification  and  nitrogen  fixation. 
It  promotes  sanitation  of  the  soil  by  inhibiting  the  growth  of  certain  fungous 
diseases,  such  as  corn-root  rot.  Experience  indicates  that  it  modifies  either 
directly  or  indirectly  the  physical  structure  of  fine-textured  soils,  frequently  to 
their  great  improvement.  Thus,  working  in  one  or  more  of  these  different  ways, 
limestone  often  becomes  the  key  to  the  improvement  of  worn  lands. 

Amounts  to  Apply. — Acid  soils  should  be  treated  with  limestone  whenever 
such  application  is  at  all  practicable.  The  initial  application  varies  with  the 
degree  of  acidity  and  will  usually  range  from  2  to  6  tons  an  acre.  The  larger 
amounts  will  be  needed  on  strongly  acid  soils,  particularly  on  land  being  pre- 
pared for  alfalfa.  When  sufficient  limestone  has  been  used  to  establish  condi- 
tions favorable  to  the  growth  of  legumes,  no  further  applications  are  necessary 
until  the  acidity  again  develops  to  such  an  extent  as  to  interfere  with  the  best 
growth  of  these  crops.  This  will  ordinarily  be  at  intervals  of  several  years.  In 
the  case  of  an  inadequate  supply  of  magnesium  in  the  soil,  the  occasional  use 
of  magnesian  (dolomitic)  limestone  would  serve  to  correct  this  deficiency. 
Otherwise,  so  far  as  present  knowledge  indicates,  either  form  of  limestone — 
high-calcium  or  magnesian — will  be  equally  effective,  depending  upon  the  purity 
and  fineness  of  the  respective  stones. 

How  to  Ascertain  the  Need  for  Limestone. — One  of  the  most  reliable  indi- 
cations as  to  whether  a  soil  needs  limestone  is  the  character  of  the  growth  of 
certain  legumes,  particularly  sweet  clover  and  alfalfa.    These  crops  do  not  thrive 


30  Soil  Report  No.  33:    Appendix  [Jtme, 

in  acid  soils.  Their  successful  growth,  therefore,  indicates  the  lack  of  sufficient 
acidity  in  the  soil  to  be  harmful.  In  case  of  their  failure  to  grow  the  soil  should 
be  tested  for  acidity  as  described  below.  A  very  valuable  test  for  ascertaining 
the  need  of  a  soil  for  limestone  is  found  in  the  potassium  thiocyanate  test  for 
soil  acidity.  It  is  desirable  to  make  the  test  for  carbonates  along  with  the  acidity 
test.  Limestone  is  calcium  carbonate,  while  dolomite  is  the  combined  carbonates 
of  calcium  and  magnesium.  The  natural  occurrence  of  these  carbonates  in  the 
soil  is  sufficient  assurance  that  no  limestone  is  needed,  and  the  acidity  test  will 
be  negative.  On  lands  which  have  been  treated  with  limestone,  however,  the 
surface  soil  may  give  a  positive  test  for  carbonates,  owing  to  the  presence  of  un- 
decomposed  pieces  of  limestone,  and  at  the  same  time  a  positive  test  for  acidity 
may  be  secured.  Such  a  result  means  either  that  insufficient  limestone  has  been 
added  to  neutralize  the  acidity,  or  that  it  has  not  been  in  the  soil  long  enough 
to  entirely  correct  the  acidity.  In  making  these  tests,  it  is  desirable  to  examine 
samples  of  soil  from  different  depths,  since  carbonates  may  be  present,  even  in 
abundance,  below  a  surface  stratum  that  is  acid.  Following  are  the  directions 
for  making  the  tests : 

The  Potassium  Thiocyanate  Test  for  Acidity.  This  test  is  made  with  a  4-percent  solu- 
tion of  potassium  thiocyanate  in  alcohol — 4  grams  of  potassium  thiocyanate  in  100  cubic 
centimeters  of  95-percent  alcohol.1  When  a  small  quantity  of  soil  shaken  up  in  a  test  tube 
with  this  solution  gives  a  red  color  the  soil  is  acid  and  limestone  should  be  applied.  If  the 
solution  remains  colorless  the  soil  is  not  acid.  An  excess  of  water  interferes  with  the  reac- 
tion. The  sample  when  tested,  therefore,  should  be  at  least  as  dry  as  when  the  soil  is  in 
good  tillable  condition.  For  a  prompt  reaction  the  temperature  of  the  soil  and  solution 
should  be  not  lower  than  that  of  comfortable  working  conditions  (60°  to  75°  Fahrenheit). 

The  Hydrochloric  Acid  Test  for  Carbonates.  Take  a  small  representative  sample  of 
soil  and  pour  upon  it  a  few  drops  of  hydrochloric  (muriatic)  acid,  prepared  by  diluting  the 
concentrated  acid  with  an  equal  volume  of  water.  t  The  presence  of.  limestone  or  some  other 
carbonates  will  be  shown  by  the  appearance  of  gas  bubbles  within  2  or  3  minutes,  producing 
foaming  or  effervescence.  The  absence  of  carbonates  in  a  soil  is  not  in  itself  evidence  that 
the  soil  is  acid  or  that  limestone  should  be  applied,  but  it  indicates  that  the  confirmatory 
potassium  thiocyanate  test  should  be  carried  out. 

The  Nitrogen  Problem 

Nitrogen  presents  the  greatest  practical  soil  problem  in  American  agricul- 
ture. Four  important  reasons  for  this  are:  its  increasing  deficiency  in  most 
soils ;  its  cost  when  purchased  on  the  open  market ;  its  removal  in  large  amounts 
by  crops;  and  its  loss  from  soils  thru  leaching.  Nitrogen  usually  costs  from 
four  to  five  times  as  much  per  pound  as  phosphorus.  A  100-bushel  crop  of  corn 
requires  150  pounds  of  nitrogen  for  its  growth,  but  only  23  pounds  of  phos- 
phorus. The  loss  of  nitrogen  from  soils  may  vary  from  a  few  pounds  to  over 
one  hundred  pounds  per  acre,  depending  upon  the  treatment  of  the  soil,  the 
distribution  of  rainfall,  and  the  protection  afforded  by  growing  crops. 

An  inexhaustible  supply  of  nitrogen  is  present  in  the  air.  Above  each  acre 
of  the  earth's  surface  there  are  about  sixty -nine  million  pounds  of  atmospheric 
nitrogen.  The  nitrogen  above  one  square  mile  weighs  twenty  million  tons,  an 
amount  sufficient  to  supply  the  entire  world  for  four  or  five  decades.  This  large 
supply  of  nitrogen  in  the  air  is  the  one  to  which  the  world  must  eventually  turn. 


1  Since  undenatured  alcohol  is  difficult  to  obtain,  some  of  the  denatured  alcohols  have 
been  tested  for  making  this  solution.  Completely  denatured  alcohol  made  over  U.  S.  Form- 
ulas No.  1  and  No.  4!  have  been  found  satisfactory.  Some  commercial  firms  are  also  offering 
similar  preparations  which  are  satisfactory. 


W&G}  Saline  County  31 

There  are  two  methods  of  collecting  the  inert  nitrogen  gas  of  the  air  and 
combining  it  into  compounds  that  will  furnish  products  for  plant  growth.  These 
are  the  chemical  and  the  biological  fixation  of  the  atmospheric  nitrogen.  Farm- 
ers have  at  their  command  one  of  these  methods.  By  growing  inoculated  legumes, 
nitrogen  may  be  obtained  from  the  air,  and  by  plowing  under  more  than  the 
roots  of  these  legumes,  nitrogen  may  be  added  to  the  soil. 

Inasmuch  as  legumes  are  worth  growing  for  purposes  other  than  the  fixation 
of  atmospheric  nitrogen,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  nitrogen  thus  gained 
may  be  considered  a  by-product.  Because  of  that  fact,  it  is  questionable  whether 
the  chemical  fixation  of  nitrogen  will  ever  be  able  to  replace  the  simple  method 
of  obtaining  atmospheric  nitrogen  by  growing  inoculated  legumes  in  the  pro- 
duction of  our  great  grain  and  forage  crops. 

It  may  well  be  kept  in  mind  that  the  following  amounts  of  nitrogen  are 
required  for  the  produce  named: 

1  bushel  of  oats   (grain  and  straw)   requires  1  pound  of  nitrogen. 

1  bushel  of  corn   (grain  and  stalks)   requires  IV2  pounds  of  nitrogen. 

1  bushel  of  wheat  (grain  and  straw)  requires  2  pounds  of  nitrogen. 

1  ton  of  timothy  contains  24  pounds  of  nitrogen. 

1  ton  of  clover  contains  40  pounds  of  nitrogen. 

1  ton  of  cowpea  hay  contains  43  pounds  of  nitrogen. 

1  ton  of  alfalfa  contains  50  pounds  of  nitrogen. 

1  ton  of  average  manure  contains  10  pounds  of  nitrogen. 

1  ton  of  young  sweet  clover,  at  about  the  stage  of  growth  when  it  is  plowed  under  as 
green  manure,  contains,  on  water-free  basis,  80  pounds  of  nitrogen. 

The  roots  of  clover  contain  about  half  as  much  nitrogen  as  the  tops,  and  the 
roots  of  cowpeas  contain  about  one-tenth  as  much  as  the  tops.  Soils  of  mod- 
erate productive  power  will  furnish  as  much  nitrogen  to  clover  (and  two  or  three 
times  as  much  to  cowpeas)  as  will  be  left  in  the  roots  and  stubble.  In  grain 
crops,  such  as  wheat,  corn,  and  oats,  about  two-thirds  of  the  nitrogen  is  con- 
tained in  the  grain  and  one-third  in  the  straw  or  stalks. 

The  Phosphorus  Problem 

The  element  phosphorus  is  an  indispensable  constituent  of  every  living  cell. 
It  is  intimately  connected  with  the  life  processes  of  both  plants  and  animals,  the 
nuclear  material  of  the  cells  being  especially  rich  in  this  element. 

The  phosphorus  content  of  the  soil  is  dependent  upon  the  origin  of  the  soil. 
The  removal  of  phosphorus  by  continuous  cropping  slowly  reduces  the  amount 
of  this  element  in  the  soil  available  for  crop  use,  unless  its  addition  is  provided 
for  by  natural  means,  such  as  overflow,  or  by  agricultural  practices,  such  as  the 
addition  of  phosphatic  fertilizers  and  rotations  in  which  deep-rooting,  leguminous 
crops  are  frequently  grown. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  in  connection  with  the  application  of  phosphate, 
or  of  any  other  fertilizing  material,  to  the  soil,  that  no  benefit  can  result  until 
the  need  for  it  has  become  a  limiting  factor  in  plant  growth.  For  example,  if 
there  is  already  present  in  the  soil  sufficient  available  phosphorus  to  produce  a 
forty-bushel  crop,  and  the  nitrogen  supply  or  the  moisture  supply  is  sufficient 
for  only  forty  bushels,  or  less,  then  extra  phosphorus  added  to  the  soil  cannot 
increase  the  yield  beyond  this  forty-bushel  limit. 


32  Soil  Report  No.  33:    Appendix  [June, 

There  are  several  different  materials  containing  phosphorus  which  are 
applied  to  land  as  fertilizer.  The  more  important  of  these  are  bone  meal,  acid 
phosphate,  natural  raw  rock  phosphate,  and  basic  slag.  Obviously  that  carrier 
of  phosphorus  which  gives  the  most  economical  returns,  as  considered  from  all 
standpoints,  is  the  most  suitable  one  to  use.  Altho  this  matter  has  been  the 
subject  of  much  discussion  and  investigation  the  question  still  remains  unset- 
tled. Probably  there  is  no  single  carrier  of  phosphorus  that  will  prove  to  be 
the  most  economical  one  to  use  under  all  circumstances  because  so  much  de- 
pends upon  soil  conditions,  crops  grown,  length  of  haul,  and  market  conditions. 

Bone  meal,  prepared  from  the  bones  of  animals,  appears  on  the  market  in 
two  different  forms,  raw  and  steamed.  Raw  bone  meal  contains,  besides  the 
phosphorus,  a  considerable  percentage  of  nitrogen  which  adds  a  useless  expense 
if  the  material  is  purchased  only  for  the  sake  of  the  phosphorus.  As  a  source 
of  phosphorus,  steamed  bone  meal  is  preferable  to  raw  bone  meal.  Steamed  bone 
meal  is  prepared  by  extracting  most  of  the  nitrogenous  and  fatty  matter  from 
the  bones,  thus  producing  a  more  nearly  pure  form  of  calcium  phosphate  con- 
taining about  10  to  12  percent  of  the  element  phosphorus. 

Acid  phosphate  is  produced  by  treating  rock  phosphate  with  sulfuric  acid. 
The  two  are  mixed  in  about  equal  amounts ;  the  product  therefore  contains 
about  one-half  as  much  phosphorus  as  the  rock  phosphate  itself.  Besides  phos- 
phorus, acid  phosphate  also  contains  sulfur,  which  is  likewise  an  element  of 
plant  food.  The  phosphorus  in  acid  phosphate  is  more  readily  available  for 
absorption  by  plants  than  that  of  raw  rock  phosphate.  Acid  phosphate  of  good 
quality  should  contain  6  percent  or  more  of  the  element  phosphorus. 

Rock  phosphate,  sometimes  called  floats,  is  a  mineral  substance  found  in 
vast  deposits  in  certain  regions.  The  phosphorus  in  this  mineral  exists  chem- 
ically as  tri-calcium  phosphate  and  a  good  grade  of  the  rock  should  contain 
12!/2  percent,  or  more,  of  the  element  phosphorus.  The  rock  should  be  ground 
to  a  powder,  fine  enough  to  pass  thru  a  100 -mesh  sieve,  or  even  finer. 

The  relative  cheapness  of  raw  rock  phosphate,  as  compared  with  the  treated 
or  acidulated  material,  makes  it  possible  to  apply  for  equal  money  expenditure 
considerably  more  phosphorus  per  acre  in  this  form  than  in  the  form  of  acid 
phosphate,  the  ratio  being,  under  the  market  conditions  of  the  past  several  years, 
about  4  to  1.  That  is  to  say,  under  these  market  conditions,  a  dollar  will  pur- 
chase about  four  times  as  much  of  the  element  phosphorus  in  the  form  of  rock 
phosphate  as  in  the  form  of  acid  phosphate,  which  is  an  important  consideration 
if  one  is  interested  in  building  up  a  phosphorus  reserve  in  the  soil.  As  explained 
above,  more  very  carefully  conducted  comparisons  on  various  soil  types  under 
various  cropping  systems  are  needed  before  definite  statements  can  be  given  as 
to  which  form  of  phosphate  is  most  economical  to  use  under  any  given  set  of 
conditions. 

Basic  slag,  known  also  as  Thomas  phosphate,  is  another  carrier  of  phos- 
phorus that  might  be  mentioned  because  of  its  considerable  usage  in  Europe 
and  eastern  United  States.  Basic  slag  phosphate  is  a  by-product  in  the  manu- 
facture of  steel.  It  contains  a  considerable  proportion  of  basic  material  and 
therefore  it  tends  to  influence  the  soil  reaction. 


1926\  Saline  County  .  33 

Rock  phosphate  may  be  applied  at  any  time  during  a  rotation,  but  it  is 
applied  to  the  best  advantage  either  preceding  a  crop  of  clover,  which  plant 
seems  to  possess  an  unusual  power  for  assimilating  the  phosphorus  from  raw 
phosphate,  or  else  at  a  time  when  it  can  be  plowed  under  with  some  form  of 
organic  matter  such  as  animal  manure  or  green  manure,  the  decay  of  which 
serves  to  liberate  the  phosphorus  from  its  insoluble  condition  in  the  rock.  It  is 
important  that  the  finely  ground  rock  phosphate  be  intimately  mixed  with  the 
organic  material  as  it  is  plowed  under. 

In  using  acid  phosphate  or  bone  meal  in  a  cropping  system  which  includes 
wheat,  it  is  a  common  practice  to  apply  the  material  in  the  preparation  of  the 
wheat  ground.  It  may  be  advantageous,  however,  to  divide  the  total  amount 
to  be  used  and  apply  a  portion  to  the  other  crops  of  the  rotation,  particularly 
to  corn  and  to  clover. 

The  Potassium  Problem 

Our  most  common  soils,  which  are  silt  loams  and  clay  loams,  are  well  stocked 
with  potassium,  altho  it  exists  largely  in  a  slowly  soluble  form.  Such  soils  as 
sands  and  peats,  however,  are  likely  to  be  low  in  this  element.  On  such  soils 
this  deficiency  may  be  remedied  by  the  application  of  some  potassium  salt,  such 
as  potassium  sulfate,  potassium  chlorid,  kainit,  or  other  potassium  compound, 
and  in  many  instances  this  is  done  at  great  profit. 

From  all  the  facts  at  hand  it  seems,  so  far  as  our  great  areas  of  common 
soils  are  concerned,  that,  with  a  few  exceptions,  the  potassium  problem  is  not 
one  of  addition  but  of  liberation.  The  Rothamsted  records,  which  represent  the 
oldest  soil  experiment  fields  in  the  world,  show  that  for  many  years  other 
soluble  salts  have  had  practically  the  same  power  as  potassium  salts  to  increase 
crop  yields  in  the  absence  of  sufficient  decaying  organic  matter.  Whether  this 
action  relates  to  supplying  or  liberating  potassium  for  its  own  sake,  or  to  the 
power  of  the  soluble  salt  to  increase  the  availability  of  phosphorus  or  other 
elements,  is  not  known,  but  where  much  potassium  is  removed,  as  in  the  entire 
crops  at  Rothamsted,  with  no  return  of  organic  residues,  probably  the  soluble 
salt  functions  in  both  ways. 

Further  evidence  on  this  matter  is  furnished  by  the  Illinois  experiment 
field  at  Fairfield,  where  potassium  sulfate  has  been  compared  with  kainit  both 
with  and  without  the  addition  of  organic  matter  in  the  form  of  stable  manure. 
Both  sulfate  and  kainit  produced  a  substantial  increase  in  the  yield  of  corn, 
but  the  cheaper  salt — kainit — was  just  as  effective  as  the  potassium  sulfate,  and 
returned  some  financial  profit.  Manure  alone  gave  an  increase  similar  to  that 
produced  by  the  potassium  salts,  but  the  salts  added  to  the  manure  gave  very 
little  increase  over  that  produced  by  the  manure  alone.  This  is  explained  in 
part,  perhaps,  by  the  fact  that  the  potassium  removed  in  the  crops  is  mostly 
returned  in  manure  properly  cared  for,  and  perhaps  in  larger  part  by  the  fact 
that  decaying  organic  matter  helps  to  liberate  and  hold  in  solution  other  plant- 
food  elements,  especially  phosphorus. 

In  laboratory  experiments  at  the  Illinois  Experiment  Station,  it  has  been 
shown  that  potassium  salts  and  most  other  soluble  salts  increase  the  solubility  of 


34  .  Soil  Report  No.  33:    Appendix  [June, 

the  phosphorus  in  soil  and  in  rock  phosphate;  also  that  the  addition  of  glucose 
with  rock  phosphate  in  pot-culture  experiments  increases  the  availability  of  the 
phosphorus,  as  measured  by  plant  growth,  altho  the  glucose  consists  only  of  car- 
bon, hydrogen,  and  oxygen,  and  thus  contains  no  limiting  element  of  plant  food. 
In  considering  the  conservation  of  potassium  on  the  farm  it  should  be  re- 
membered that  in  average  livestock  farming  tne  animals  destroy  two-thirds  of 
the  organic  matter  and  retain  one-fourth  of  the  nitrogen  and  phosphorus  from 
the  food  they  consume,  but  that  they  retain  less  than  one-tenth  of  the  potassium ; 
so  that  the  actual  loss  of  potassium  in  the  products  sold  from  the  farm,  either 
in  grain  farming  or  in  livestock  farming,  is  negligible  on  land  containing  25,000 
pounds  or  more  of  potassium  in  the  surface  6%  inches. 

The  Calcium  and  Magnesium  Problem 

When  measured  by  crop  removals  of  the  plant-food  elements,  calcium  is 
often  more  limited  in  Illinois  soils  than  is  potassium,  while,  magnesium  may  be 
occasionally.  In  the  case  of  calcium,  however,  the  deficiency  is  likely  to  develop 
more  rapidly  and  become  much  more  marked  because  this  element  is  leached 
out  of  the  soil  in  drainage  water  to  a  far  greater  extent  than  is  either  magnesium 
or  potassium. 

The  annual  loss  of  limestone  from  the  soil  depends,  of  course,  upon  a  num- 
ber of  factors  aside  from  those  which  have  to  do  with  climatic  conditions. 
Among  these  factors  may  be  mentioned  the  character  of  the  soil,  the  kind  of 
limestone,  its  condition  of  fineness,  the  amount  present,  and  the  sort  of  farming 
practiced.  Because  of  this  variation  in  the  loss  of  lime  materials  from  the  soil, 
it  is  impossible  to  prescribe  a  fixed  practice  in  their  renewal  that  will  apply  uni- 
versally. The  tests  for  acidity  and  carbonates  described  above,  together  with  the 
behavior  of  such  lime-loving  legumes  as  alfalfa  and  sweet  clover,  will  serve  as 
general  indicators  for  the  frequency  of  applying  limestone  and  the  amount  to 
use  on  a  given  field. 

Limestone  has  a  positive  value  on  some  soils  for  the  plant  food  which  it 
supplies,  in  addition  to  its  value  in  correcting  soil  acidity  and  in  improving  the 
physical  condition  of  the  soil.  Ordinary  limestone  (abundant  in  the  southern 
and  western  parts  of  the  state)  contains  nearly  800  pounds  of  calcium  per  ton; 
while  a  good  grade  of  dolomitic  limestone  (the  more  common  limestone  of  north- 
ern Illinois)  contains  about  400  pounds  of  calcium  and  300  pounds  of  magnesium 
per  ton.  Both  of  these  elements  are  furnished  in  readily  available  form  in 
ground  dolomitic  limestone. 

The  Sulfur  Question 

In  considering  the  relation  of  sulfur  in  a  permanent  system  of  soil  fertility 
it  is  important  to  understand  something  of  the  cycle  of  transformations  that  this 
element  undergoes  in  nature.    Briefly  stated  this  is  as  follows: 

Sulfur  exists  in  the  soil  in  both  organic  and  inorganic  forms,  the  former 
being  gradually  converted  to  the  latter  form  thru  bacterial  action.  In  this 
inorganic  form  sulfur  is  taken  up  by  plants  which  in  their  physiological  pro- 
cesses change  it  once  more  into  an  organic  form  as  a  constituent  of  protein. 


1926]  Saline  County  35 

When  these  plant  proteins  are  consumed  by  animals,  the  sulfur  becomes  a  part 
of  the  animal  protein.  When  these  plant  and  animal  proteins  are  decomposed, 
either  thru  bacterial  action,  or  thru  combustion,  as  in  the  burning  of  coal,  the 
sulfur  passes  into  the  atmosphere  or  into  the  soil  solution  in  the  form  of  sulfur 
dioxid  gas.  This  gas  unites  with  oxygen  and  water  to  form  sulfuric  acid,  which 
is  readily  washed  back  into  the  soil  by  the  rain,  thus  completing  the  cycle,  from 
soil — to  plants  and  animals — to  air — to  soil. 

In  this  way  sulfur  becomes  largely  a  self -renewing  element  of  the  soil,  altho 
there  is  a  considerable  loss  from  the  soil  by  leaching.  Observations  taken  at  the 
Illinois  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  show  that  40  pounds  of  sulfur  per 
acre  are  brought  into  the  soil  thru  the  annual  rainfall.  With  a  fair  stock  of 
sulfur,  such  as  exists  in  our  common  types  of  soil,  and  with  an  annual  return, 
which  of  itself  would  more  than  suffice  for  the  needs  of  maximum  crops,  the 
maintenance  of  an  adequate  sulfur  supply  presents  little  reason  at  present  for 
serious  concern.  There  are  regions,  however,  where  the  natural  stock  of  sulfur 
in  the  soil  is  not  nearly  so  high  and  where  the  amount  returned  thru  rainfall  is 
small.  Under  such  circumstances  sulfur  soon  becomes  a  limiting  element  of 
■crop  production,  and  it  will  be  necessary  sooner  or  later  to  introduce  this  sub- 
stance from  some  outside  source.  Investigation  is  now  under  way  to  determine 
to  what  extent  this  situation  may  apply  under  Illinois  conditions. 

Physical  Improvement  of  Soils 

In  the  management  of  most  soil  types,  one  very  important  matter,  aside  from 
proper  fertilization,  tillage,  and  drainage,  is  to  keep  the  soil  in  good  physical 
condition,  or  good  tilth.  The  constituent  most  important  for  this  purpose  is 
organic  matter.  Organic  matter  in  producing  good  tilth  helps  to  control  wash- 
ing of  soil  on  rolling  land,  raises  the  temperature  of  drained  soil,  increases  the 
moisture-holding  capacity  of  the  soil,  slightly  retards  capillary  rise  and  conse- 
quently loss  of  moisture  by  surface  evaporation,  and  helps  to  overcome  the 
tendency  of  some  soils  to  run  together  badly. 

The  physical  effect  of  organic  matter  is  to  produce  a  granulation  or  mellow- 
ness, by  cementing  the  fine  soil  particles  into  crumbs  or  grains  about  as  large 
as  grains  of  sand,  which  produces  a  condition  very  favorable  for  tillage,  percola- 
tion of  rainfall,  and  the  development  of  plant  roots. 

Organic  matter  is  undergoing  destruction  during  a  large  part  of  the  year 
and  the  nitrates  produced  in  its  decomposition  are  used  for  plant  growth.  Altho 
this  decomposition  is  necessary,  it  nevertheless  reduces  the  amount  of  organic 
matter,  and  provision  must  therefore  be  made  for  maintaining  the  supply.  The 
practical  way  to  do  this  is  to  turn  under  the  farm  manure,  straw,  cornstalks, 
weeds,  and  all  or  part  of  the  legumes  produced  on  the  farm.  The  amount  of 
legumes  needed  depends  upon  the  character  of  the  soil.  There  are  farms,  espe- 
cially grain  farms,  in  nearly  every  community  where  all  legumes  could  be  turned 
under  for  several  years  to  good  advantage. 

Manure  should  be  spread  upon  the  land  as  soon  as  possible  after  it  is  pro- 
duced, for  if  it  is  allowed  to  lie  in  the  barnyard  several  months  as  is  so  often 
the  case,  from  one-third  to  two-thirds  of  the  organic  matter  will  be  lost. 


36  Soil  Report  No.  S3:    Appendix  [June, 

Straw  and  cornstalks  should  be  turned  under,  and  not  burned.  There  is 
considerable  evidence-  indicating  that  on  some  soils  undecomposed  straw  applied 
in  excessive  amount  may  be  detrimental.  Probably  the  best  practice  is  to  apply 
the  straw  as  a  constituent  of  well-rotted  stable  manure.  Perhaps  no  form  of 
organic  matter  acts  more  beneficially  in  producing  good  tilth  than  cornstalks.  It 
is  true,  they  decay  rather  slowly,  but  it  is  also  true  that  their  durability  in  the 
soil  is  exactly  what  is  needed  in  the  production  of  good  tilth.  Furthermore, 
the  nitrogen  in  a  ton  of  cornstalks  is  one  and  one-half  times  that  of  a  ton  of 
manure,  and  a  ton  of  dry  cornstalks  incorporated  in  the  soil  will  ultimately 
furnish  as  much  humus  as  four  tons  of  average  farm  manure.  When  burned, 
however,  both  the  humus-making  material  and  the  nitrogen  are  lost  to  the  soil. 

It  is  a  common  practice  in  the  corn  belt  to  pasture  the  cornstalks  during 
the  winter  and  often  rather  late  in  the  spring  after  the  frost  is  out  of  the  ground. 
This  trampling  by  stock  sometimes  puts  the  soil  in  bad  condition  for  working. 
It  becomes  partially  puddled  and  will  be  cloddy  as  a  result.  If  tramped  too 
late  in  the  spring,  the  natural  agencies  of  freezing  and  thawing  and  wetting 
and  drying,  with  the  aid  of  ordinary  tillage,  fail  to  produce  good  tilth  before 
the  crop  is  planted.  Whether  the  crop  is  corn  or  oats,  it  necessarily  suffers,  and 
if  the  season  is  dry,  much  damage  may  be  done.  If  the  field  is  put  in  corn,  a 
poor  stand  is  likely  to  result,  and  if  put  in  oats,  the  soil  is  so  compact  as  to  be 
unfavorable  for  their  growth.  Sometimes  the  soil  is  worked  when  too  wet.  This 
also  produces  a  partial  puddling  which  is  unfavorable  to  physical,  chemical,  and 
biological  processes.  The  effect  becomes  worse  if  cropping  has  reduced  the 
organic  matter  below  the  amount  necessary  to  maintain  good  tilth. 

Systems  of  Crop  Rotations 

In  a  program  of  permanent  soil  improvement  one  should  adopt  at  the  outset 
a  good  rotation  of  crops,  including,  for  the  reasons  discussed  above,  a  liberal 
use  of  legumes.  No  one  can  say  in  advance  for  every  particular  case  what  will 
prove  to  be  the  best  rotation  of  crops,  because  of  variation  in  farms  and  farmers 
and  in  prices  for  produce.  As  a  general  principle  the  shorter  rotations,  with 
the  frequent  introduction  of  leguminous  crops,  are  the  better  adapted  for  build- 
ing up  poor  soils. 

Following  are  a  few  suggested  rotations  which  may  serve  as  models  or  out- 
lines to  be  modified  according  to  special  circumstances. 

Six- Year  Rotations 

First  year     — Corn 

Second  year  — Corn 

Third  year    — "Wheat  or  oats  (with  clover,  or  clover  and  grass) 

Fourth  year  — Clover,  or  clover  and  grass 

Fifth  year     — Wheat  (with  clover),  or  grass  and  clover 

Sixth  year     — Clover,  or  clover  and  grass 

Of  course  there  should  be  as  many  fields  as  there  are  years  in  the  rotation. 
In  grain  farming,  with  small  grain  grown  the  third  and  fifth  years,  most  of  the 
unsalable  products  should  be  returned  to  the  soil,  and  the  clover  may  be  clipped 
and  left  on  the  land  or  returned  after  threshing  out  the  seed  (only  the  clover 


1926} 


Saline  County 


37 


seed  being  sold  the  fourth  and  sixth  years)  ;  or,  in  livestock  farming,  the  field 
may  be  used  three  years  for  timothy  and  clover  pasture  and  meadow  if  desired. 
The  system  may  be  reduced  to  a  five-year  rotation  by  cutting  out  either  the  sec- 
ond or  the  sixth  year,  and  to  a  four-year  system  by  omitting  the  fifth  and  sixth 
years,  as  indicated  below. 


Five-Year  Rotations 


-Corn 


First  year 

Second  year  — Wheat  or  oats   (with  clover,  or  clover  and  grass) 

Third  year    — Clover,  or  clover  and  grass 

Fourth  year  — Wheat  (with  clover),  or  clover  and  grass 

Fifth  year     — Clover,  or  clover  and  grass 

First  year     - — Corn 

Second  year  — Corn 

Third  year    — Wheat  or  oats  (with  clover,  or  clover  and  grass) 

Fourth  year  — Clover,  or  clover  and  grass 

Fifth  year     — Wheat  (with  clover) 

First  year     —Corn 

Second  year  — Cowpeas  or  soybeans 

Third  year    — Wheat  (with  clover) 

Fourth  year  — Clover 

Fifth  year     — Wheat  (with  clover) 

The  last  rotation  mentioned  above  allows  legumes  to  be  grown  four  times. 
Alfalfa  may  be  grown  on  a  sixth  field  for  five  or  six  years  in  the  combination 
rotation,  alternating  between  two  fields  every  five  years,  or  rotating  over  all  the 
fields  if  moved  every  six  years. 


Four- Year  Rotations 

First  year     — Corn  First  year     — Corn 

Second  year  — Wheat  or  oats  (with  clover)  Second  year  — Corn 

Third  year    ■ — Clover  Third  year    — Wheat  or  oats   (with  clover) 

Fourth  year  — Wheat  (with  clover)  Fourth  year  — Clover 


Fourth  year 

First  year     — Corn 
Second  year  — Cowpeas  or  soybeans 
Third  year    — Wheat  (with  clover) 
Fourth  year  — Clover 


First  year    — Wheat    (with  clover) 

Second  year  — Clover 

Third  year    — Com 

Fourth  year  — Oats  (with  clover) 


Alfalfa  may  be  grown  on  a  fifth  field  for  four  or  eight  years,  which  is  to 
be  alternated  with  one  of  the  four ;  or  the  alfalfa  may  be  moved  every  five  years, 
and  thus  rotated  over  all  five  fields  everv  twentv-five  vears. 


Three- Year  Rotations 


First  year     — Corn 

Second  year  — Oats  or  wheat    (with  clover) 

Third  year    — Clover 


First  year    — Wheat  or  oats  (with  clover) 

Second  year  — Corn 

Third  year    — Cowpeas  or  soybeans  . 


By  allowing  the  clover,  in  the  last  rotation  mentioned,  to  grow  in  the  spring 
before  preparing  the  land  for  corn,  we  have  provided  a  system  in  which  legumes 
grow  on  every  acre  every  year.  This  is  likewise  true  of  the  following  suggested 
two-year  system : 

Two-Year  Rotations 

First  year     — Oats  or  wheat   (with  sweet  clover) 
Second  year  — Corn 


38 


Soil  Report  No.  33:    Appendix 


[June, 


Altho  in  this  two-year  rotation  either  oats  or  wheat  is  suggested,  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  by  dividing  the  land  devoted  to  small  grain,  both  of  these  crops  can  be 
grown  simultaneously,  thus  providing  a  three-crop  system  in  a  two-year  cycle. 

It  should  be  understood  that  in  all  of  the  above  suggested  cropping  systems 
it  may  be  desirable  in  some  cases  to  substitute  rye  for  the  wheat  or  oats.  Or,  in 
some  cases,  it  may  become  desirable  to  divide  the  acreage  of  small  grain  and 
grow  in  the  same  year  more  than  one  kind.  In  all  of  these  proposed  rotations 
the  word  clover  is  used  in  a  general  sense  to  designate  either  red  clover,  alsike 
clover,  or  sweet  clover.  The  value  of  sweet  clover,  especially  as  a  green  manure 
for  building  up  depleted  soils,  as  well  as  a  pasture  and  hay-crop,  is  becoming 
thoroly  established,  and  its  importance  in  a  crop-rotation  program  may  well 
be  emphasized. 


SUPPLEMENT:  EXPERIMENT  FIELD  DATA 

(Results  from  Experiment  Fields  on  Soil  Types  Similar  to  Those  Occurring  in 

Saline  County) 

The  University  of  Illinois  has  operated  altogether  about  fifty  soil  experi- 
ment fields  in  different  sections  of  the  state  and  on  various  types  of  soil.  Altho 
some  of  these  fields  have  been  discontinued,  the  large  majority  are  still  in 
operation.  It  is  the  present  purpose  to  report  the  results  from  certain  of  these 
fields  located  on  types  of  soil  described  in  the  accompanying  soil  report. 

A  few  general  explanations  at  this  point,  which  apply  to  all  the  fields,  will 
relieve  the  necessity  of  numerous  repetitions  in  the  following  pages. 

Size  and  Arrangement  of  Fields 

The  soil  experiment  fields  vary  in  size  from  less  than  two  acres  up  to  40  acres 
or  more.  They  are  laid  off  into  series  of  plots,  the  plots  commonly  being  either 
one-fifth  or  one-tenth  acre  in  area.  Each  series  is  occupied  by  one  kind  of  crop. 
Usually  there  are  several  series  so  that  a  crop  rotation  can  be  carried  on  with 
every  crop  represented  every  year. 

Farming  Systems 

On  many  of  the  fields  the  treatment  provides  for  two  distinct  systems  of 
farming,  livestock  farming  and  grain  farming. 

In  the  livestock  system,  stable  manure  is  used  to  furnish  organic  matter 
and  nitrogen.  The  amount  applied  to  a  plot  is  based  upon  the  amount  that  can 
be  produced  from  crops  raised  on  that  plot. 

In  the  grain  system  no  animal  manure  is  used.  The  organic  matter  and 
nitrogen  are  applied  in  the  form  of  plant  manures,  including  the  plant  residues 
produced,  such  as  cornstalks,  straw  from  wheat,  oats,  clover,  etc.,  along  with 
leguminous  catch  crops  plowed  under.  It  is  the  plan  in  this  latter  system  to 
remove  from  the  land,  in  the  main,  only  the  grain  and  seed  produced,  except  in 
the  case  of  alfalfa,  that  crop  being  harvested  for  hay  the  same  as  in  the  livestock 
system. 

Crop  Rotations 

Crops  which  are  of  interest  in  the  respective  localities  are  grown  in  definite 
rotations.  The  most  common  rotation  used  is  wheat,  corn,  oats,  and  clover; 
and  often  these  crops  are  accompanied  by  alfalfa  growing  on  a  fifth  series.  In 
the  grain  system  a  legume  catch  crop,  usually  sweet  clover,  is  included,  which 
is  seeded  on  the  young  wheat  in  the  spring  and  plowed  under  in  the  fall  or  in 
the  following  spring  in  preparation  for  corn.  If  the  red  clover  crop  fails,  soy- 
beans are  substituted. 

33 


40  Soil  Report  No.  33:    Supplement  [June, 

Soil  Treatment 

The  treatment  applied  to  the  plots  has,  for  the  most  part,  been  standard- 
ized according  to  a  rather  definite  system,  altho  deviations  from  this  system 
oecur  now  and  then,  particularly  in  the  older  fields. 

Following  is  a  brief  explanation  of  this  standard  system  of  treatment. 

Animal  manures. — Animal  manures,  consisting  of  excreta  from  animals, 
with  stable  litter,  are  spread  upon  the  respective  plots  in  amounts  proportionate 
to  previous  crop  yields,  the  applications  being  made  in  the  preparation  for  corn. 

Plant  Manures. — Crop  residues  produced  on  the  land,  such  as  stalks,  straw, 
and  chaff,  are  returned  to  the  soil,  and  in  addition  a  green-manure  crop  of  sweet 
clover  is  seeded  in  small  grains  to  be  plowed  under  in  preparation  for  corn.  (On 
plots  where  limestone  is  lacking  the  sweet  clover  seldom  survives. )  This  practice 
is  designated  as  the  residues  system. 

Mineral  Manures. — The  yearly  acre-rates  of  application  have  been:  for 
limestone,  1,000  pounds;  for  raw  rock  phosphate,  500  pounds;  and  for  potas- 
sium, usually  200  pounds  of  kainit.  When  kainit  was  not  available,  owing  to 
conditions  brought  on  by  the  World  war,  potassium  carbonate  was  used.  The 
initial  application  of  limestone  has  usually  been  4  tons  per  acre. 

Explanation  of  Symbols  Used 
0     =  Untreated  land  or  check  plots 
M   =  Manure  (animal) 

R    =  Residues  (from  crops,  and  includes  legumes  used  as  green  manure) 
L    =  Limestone 
P    ==  Phosphorus,  in  the  form  of  rock  phosphate  unless  otherwise  designated; 

(aP  =  acid  phosphate,  bP  =  bonemeal,  rP=-rock  phosphate,  sP  =  slag 

phosphate) 
K    =  Potassium  (usually  in  the  form  of  kainit) 
N    =  Nitrogen  (usually  in  the  form  contained  in  dried  blood) 
Le  =  Legumes  used  as  green  manure 
(  )  =  Parentheses  enclosing  figures  signify  tons  of  hay,  as  distinguished  from 

bushels  of  seed  . 

In  discussions  of  this  sort  of  data,  financial  profits  or  losses  based  upon 
assigned  market  values  are  frequently  considered.  However,  in  view  of  the 
erratic  fluctuations  in  market  values — especially  in  the  past  few  years — it  seems 
futile  to  attempt  to  set  any  prices  for  this  purpose  that  are  at  all  satisfactory. 
The  yields  are  therefore  presented  with  the  thought  that  with  these  figures  at 
hand  the  financial  returns  from  a  given  practice  can  readily  be  computed  upon 
the  basis  of  any  set  of  market  values  that  the  reader  may  choose  to  apply. 

THE  RALEIGH  FIELD 

A  University  soil  experiment  field  is  located  in  Saline  county  immediately 
south  of  Raleigh.  This  field  has  been  in  operation  since  1910.  It  comprizes 
14  acres  of  light-colored,  loessial  soils  characteristic  of  the  region.  The  soil  type 
indicated  on  the  county  map  is  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam.  With  accumulating 
experience  in  the  soil  survey,  however,  certain  soil  characteristics  have  come 


1926] 


Saline  County 


41 


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44  Soil  Report  No.  33:    Supplement  [June, 

to  attention  which  formerly  were  not  recognized  and  which,  in  some  instances, 
call  for  modifying  the  classification  shown  by  the  county  soil  map.  Thus  a 
more  detailed  examination  has  revealed  the  presence  of  what  how  may  be  re- 
garded as  four  distinguishable  soil  types  on  the  Raleigh  field ;  namely,  Yellow- 
Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay,  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay,  Gray  Silt  Loam 
On  Orange-Mottled  Plastic  Clay,  and  Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam.  The  distribution 
of  these  soil  types  as  well  as  the  arrangement  of  plots  is  charted  on  the  accom- 
panying diagram  (Fig.  2).  The  topography,  or  lay  of  the  land,  is  indicated 
on  the  diagram  by  contour  lines.  The  land  has  been  tiled  and  the  drainage 
is  good. 

The  field  is  laid  out  into  four  series  of  10  plots  each.  Fortunately  the 
plot  series  run  fairly  parallel  with  the  soil  types  in  such  manner  that  the  100 
Series  is  located  mainly  on  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay,  the  200  and  300 
Series  are  almost  entirely  confined  to  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay, 
and  the  400  Series  lies  mainly  on  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Orange-Mottled  Plastic 
Clay.  The  plots  are  under  a  four-crop  rotation  system  of  wheat,  corn,  oats, 
and  clover.  In  the  event  of  clover  failure  either  soybeans  or  cowpeas  have  been 
substituted  as  the  legume  crop.  The  soil  treatments  are  as  indicated  in  the 
accompanying  diagram  and  tables,  and  until  1922  they  were  applied  in  the 
manner  described  above.  In  1922  the  return  of  the  wheat  straw  in  the  residue 
system  was  discontinued.  In  the  same  year  the  regular  application  of  lime- 
stone was  suspended  until  such  time  as  it  appears  to  be  needed  again.  In  1923 
the  rock  phosphate  was  evened  up  on  all  phosphate  plots  to  a  total  application  of 
414  tons  an  acre,  and  the  applications  were  discontinued  for  an  indefinite  period. 

At  this  time  the  plots  were  divided  into  west  and  east  halves  for  the  pur- 
pose of  instituting  some  new  investigations  designed  to  help  solve  some  of  the 
problems  that  have  arisen  during  the  course  of  the  experiments.  The  west  halves 
were  continued  under  their  original  treatments,  while  the  east  halves  were  given 
over  to  a  study  of  the  phosphate  question.  The  particular  treatments  on  the 
divided  plots  are  shown  in  Table  8. 

The  yields  of  all  the  crops  grown  since  the  beginning  of  the  experiments 
are  placed  on  record  in  Tables  7  and  8.  For  convenience  in  studying  the  effects 
of  the  treatments,  the  results  are  summarized  and  presented  in  Table  9,  which 
shows  the  average  annual  yields  for  the  several  kinds  of  crops,  including  the 
years  since  the  complete  plot  treatments  have  been  in  effect.  This  summary 
includes  all  of  the  results  of  Table  7,  together  with  those  in  Table  8,  which 
pertain  to  the  west  half-plots. 

A  study  of  these  data  brings  out  the  following  comments  concerning  the 
effects  of  the  various  treatments  on  the  Raleigh  field : 

1.  The  untreated  plots  are  conspicuous  in  their  low  yields. 

2.  All  the  different  kinds  of  crops  show  some  response  to  the  application 
of  stable  manure,  altho  the  beneficial  effect  varies  greatly. 

3.  Crop  residues  used  alone  have  been  of  very  little  effect. 

4.  Limestone  stands  out  in  its  effect  as  the  most  prominent  agency  in  soil 
improvement. 

5.  The  combination  of  residues  and  limestone  has  produced  yields  almost 
as  high  as  that  of  manure  and  limestone. 


1926] 


Saline  County 


45 


Fig.  3. — Corn  on  the  Raleigh  Field 
At  the  right  no  treatment  has  been  applied ;    at  the  left,  manure,  limestone,  and  phos- 
phate have  been  applied,  the  major  effect  being  produced  by  the  limestone  and  manure. 


Fig.  4. — Corn  on  the  Raleigh  Field 
The  treatment  here  is  the  same  as  that  shown  in  Fig.  ?>  except  that  no  manure  is  used,  the 
organic   matter   being  supplied  by  crop  residues,   including  stalks,  straw,  and  legumes  plowed 
under. 


46 


Soil  Report  No.  33:    Supplement 


[June, 


Table  8.— RALEIGH  FIELD:  1924-1925 
Annual  Crop  Yields — Bushels  or  (tons)  per  acre 


Serial 
plot 
No. 


Soil  treatment 


1924 


Series 

100 

Oats 


Series 

200 

Corn 


Series 

300 
Wheat 


Series 

400 
Clover 


1925 


Series 
100 
Timothy- 
clover 


Series 
200 
Oats 


Series 

300 

Corn 


Series 

400 
Wheat 


1  W 
IE 

2  W 

2E 

3  W 
3E 

4  W 
4E 

5  W 

5E 

6  W 
6E 

7  W 

7E 

8  W 
8E 

9  W 
9E 

10W 
10  E 


0.  . 
RL 


M... 
MrP. 


ML... 
MLbP. 

MLrP' . 
MLrP. 


0.  .  . 
RaP. 

R ... 
RrP. 


RL... 
RLaP. 


RLrP1 

RLrP 

RLrP'K 

RLrP'K-Gypsum . 

0 

RLrP 


16.6 
18.8 

32.8 
35.6 

50.3 
50.6 

57.5 
50.9 

29.1 
28.1 

29.1 
26.6 

47.8 
54.1 

58.1 
50.3 

57.2 
50.9 

16.6 
17.5 


1.2 

1.4 

7.8 
.6 

33.2 
26.8 

34.4 
27.6 

2.2 
.1 

6.0 
2.0 

33.0 

38.2 

32.2 
45.6 

41.4 
45.2 

2.6 
13.2 


.3 
1.2 

3.2 
7.5 

10.7 
13.5 

15.8 
17.3 

0.0 
5.3 

1.2 
6.3 

7.3 
14.0 

9.2 
11.2 

14.0 
18.3 

1.5 
4.2 


0.00) 
0.00) 

0.00) 
0.00) 

1.31) 
1.64) 

1.42) 
1.78) 

0.00) 
0.00) 

0.00) 
0.00) 

1.41) 

.28) 

.57) 

.87) 


25) 
47) 


0.00) 
0.00) 


(0.00) 
(0.00) 

(   -44) 
(   .29) 

(2.24) 
(1.80) 

(2.37) 
(2.09) 

(   -41) 
(0.00) 

(   -32) 
(0.00) 

(1.00) 
(   -99) 

(1.68) 
(1.37) 

(1.98) 
(1.70) 

(0.00) 
(0.00) 


12.8 
17.5 

25.9 
35.9 

44.7 
46.9 

46.9 
49.7 

17.5 

27.8 

22.5 

34.7 

32.2 
43.8 

43.0 

45.9 

42.5 

48.8 

15.6 
44.7 


17.4 
22.0 

29.0 
31.6 

33.2 

44.0 

37.0 
44.8 

11.8 
16.2 

20.0 
24.2 

37.2 
38.6 

54.0 
54.2 

52.8 
60.4 

24.4 
46.8 


1.8 
6.3 

7.3 
10.5 

25.5 
33.7 

26.7 
34.3 

3.5 
13.8 

5.8 
17.7 

22.0 

28.5 

26.7 
31.8 

28.2 
34.7 

9.2 
12.7 


'Residual  phosphate. 

6.  A  very  small  crop  increase  in  every  case  has  attended  the  application 
of  phosphate,  but  this  increase  is  not  sufficient  to  cover  the  cost  of  the  rock 
phosphate  used.     As  mentioned  above,  the  phosphate  problem  is  now  being 


Table  9.— RALEIGH  FIELD:     Summary  of  Crop  Yields 
Average" Annual  Yields  1911-1925 — Bushels  or  (tons)  per  acre 


Serial 
plot 
No. 


9 

10 


Soil  treatment 


0 

M.  ... 
ML... 
MLrP. 


0 

R 

RL... 
RLrP. 


RLrPK 

,0 


Corn 
15  crops 


15.7 
28.2 
41.9 
43.0 

16.3 
19.9 
36.6 
39.9 

46.0 
19.5 


Oats 
15  crops 


10.3 
14.2 
23.3 
24.3 

11.4 
13.7 
23.6 
25.9 

26.4 
11.5 


Wheat 
10  crops 


■-"      i" —  -  ~ —  *  

'Including  several  seed  crops  evaluated  in  this  summary  as  hay. 


5.3 

7.6 

20.6 

22.1 

6.1 

7.9 

19.0 

21.3 

24.2 
6.4 


Clover1 
7  crops 


(  -17) 
(  -31) 
(1.36) 
(1.58) 

(  -10) 
(  -10) 
(  .96) 
(1.00) 

(1.22) 
(   .15) 


Soybeans1 
6  crops 


(  .61) 
(  -80) 
(1.22) 
(1.38) 

(  -40) 
(  -50) 
(  -91) 
(1.06) 

(1.11) 

(   -65) 


1926] 


Saline  County 


47 


made  the  subject  of  special  investigation  on  these  plots.  The  residual  effect  of 
phosphate  previously  applied,  on  the  one  hand,  and  new  applications  under 
different  methods,  on  the  other  hand,  should  furnish  in  the  next  few  years  much 
more  definite  information  regarding  the  economical  use  of  phosphate  than  now 
exists. 

7.  Potassium  in  the  form  of  kainit  has  likewise  increased  the  yield  of  all 
crops,  particularly  the  corn,  wheat,  and  clover.  At  current  prices  the  value  of 
the  increase  is  just  about  offset  by  the  cost  of  the  kainit  applied. 


Fig.  5. 


-A  Party  Looking  over  Demonstrations  in  Soil  Management 
on  the  Raleigh  Experiment  Field 


Regarding  the  cropping  system  employed  on  this  field,  it  may  be  said  that 
altho  it  serves  fairly  well  for  experimental  purposes  in  determining  the  needs 
of  the  soil,  for  farming  practice  it  doubtless  could  be  improved,  either  by  sub- 
stituting a  more  profitable  crop  for  the  oats,  or  by  rearranging  the  crop  sequence 
and  omitting  the  oats. 

THE  SPARTA  FIELD 

As  representative  of  experimental  results  on  the  soil  type  Light  Gray  Silt 
Loam  On  Tight  Clay,  data  from  certain  plots  on  the  Sparta  experiment  field 
are  introduced  here.  The  Sparta  field  was  established  in  Randolph  'county  im- 
mediately north  of  the  town  of  Sparta  in  1916.  The  four  series  of  plots  desig- 
nated as  the  100,  200,  300,  and  400  Series,  with  the  exception  of  parts  of  two 
plots,  are  all  on  the  soil  type  mapped  as  Light  Gray  Silt  Loam  On  Tight  Clay. 
They  are  under  a  crop  rotation  of  corn,  soybeans,  wheat,  and  clover  (chiefly 
sweet  clover).  Until  1921  is  was  the  practice  to  seed  cowpeas  as  a  cover  crop 
in  the  corn  on  the  residues  plots.  The  soil  treatments  are  as  indicated  in  the 
accompanying  table,  and  they  have  been  applied  in  the  manner  previously 
described,  with  the  exception  that  the  initial  application  of  limestone  was  5  tons 
an  acre  and  in  1922  the  periodic  application  of  this  material  was  discontinued 
until  its  further  need  should  become  apparent. 

Table  10  gives  a  summary  of  the  results  showing  the  average  annual  yields 
for  the  different  kinds  of  crops,  including  the  years  that  the  complete  soil  treat- 
ments have  been  in  effect. 

The  low  yields  on  the  untreated  plots  testify  to  the  natural  poverty  of  this 
soil,  altho  this  particular  piece  of  land,  on  account  of  its  favorable  location  with 


48 


Soil  Report  No.  33:    Supplement 


[June, 


Table  10.— SPARTA  FIELD:  Series  100,  200,  300,  and  400 

Summary  of  Crop  Yields 
Average  Annual  Yields  1917-1925 — Bushels  or  (tons)  per  acre 


Serial 
plot 
No. 

Soil  treatment 

Corn 
9  crops 

Soybeans1 
8  crops 

Wheat 
7  crops 

Clover 
1  crop 

Sweet 

clover  seed 

5  crops 

1 

2 

0 

M 

15.6 
19.4 
29.8 
30.8 

13.4 
16.3 
23.3 
23.4 

29.2 
11.4 

(   -62) 
(   .80) 
(1.47) 
(1.47) 

(   -52) 
(   -61) 
(1.28) 
(1.38) 

(1.40) 

(   .59) 

5.4 

7.8 

17.1 

17.7 

5.5 

5.5 

16.2 

17.1 

18.3 
4.6 

(0.00) 
(0.00) 
(1.66) 

(1.73) 

(0.00) 
(0.00) 
(1.50) 
(1.87) 

(1.69) 
(0.00) 

0.00 
0.00 

3 
4 

5 

ML 

MLrP 

0 

1.60 
1.38 

0.00 

6 

7 
8 

R 

RL 

RLrP 

0.00 
1.17 
1.41 

9 
10 

RLrPK 

0 

1.86 
0.00 

1U         U 11.4 (     .  5U) 4 

'Including  several  seed  crops  evaluated  in  this  summary  as  hay. 


respect  to  drainage,  is  rather  more  productive  than  the  general  run  of  the  type 
that  it  represents. 

Neither  manure  nor  residues,  used  alone,  has  much  effect  toward  crop  im- 
provement. A  sharp  increase,  however,  follows  the  application  of  limestone 
used  with  either  manure  or  residues.  Without  limestone,  clover  refuses  to  grow ; 
with  limestone,  fair  crops  of  clover  have  been  obtained.  Rock  phosphate  in  addi- 
tion to  limestone  has  produced  no  significant  effect,  used  either  with  manure  or 
with  residues. 

Potassium  seems  to  have  been  of  some  benefit  to  the  corn  but  not  to  the 
other  crops.  It  is  questionable,  however,  whether  the  increase  in  corn  yield 
would  cover  the  cost  of  material  as  it  was  used  in  these  experiments.  It  is  pos- 
sible that  smaller  quantities  applied  direct  to  the  corn  crop  would  prove  a  more 
economical  way  to  use  potassium  fertilizer  on  this  soil. 

THE  ELIZABETHTOWN  FIELD 

The  Elizabethtown  experiment  field  was  established  by  the  University  in 
1917,  in  the  unglaciated  hilly  section  of  southern  Illinois.  This  field  is  located 
in  Hardin  County  about  two  miles  north  of  Elizabethtown.  The  soil  is  of  loessial 
formation,  the  predominating  type  on.  this  field  being  classified  as  Yellow  Silt 
Loam.  A  detailed  examination,  however,  shows  the  presence  of  some  Yellow- 
Gray  Silt  Loam  and  also  a  very  small  patch  of  Stony  Loam.  The  land  is  ex- 
tremely rough  in  topography,  the  contour  map  showing  a  range  in  elevation  of 
42  feet  on  that  part  of  the  field  occupied  by  the  present  plots.  Erosion,  there- 
fore, is  a  serious  problem.  The  field  embraces  about  32  acres,  of  which  area 
about  one-half  is  laid  off  into  plots.  There  are  four  series  of  10  fifth-acre  plots 
each,  included  in  a  major  rotation.  Another  series  of  10  tenth-acre  plots  is  de- 
voted to  another  rotation,  and  in  addition  to  these  there  are  three  other  plots 
designated  as  A,  B,  and  C,  upon  which  a  special  phosphate  test  is  being  carried  on. 

The  major  rotation  formerly  included  corn  (with  rye  cover  crop),  soy- 
beans, wheat,  and  sweet  clover,  but  this  was  changed  in  1923  to  a  rotation  of 
corn,  wheat,  clover-timothy  mixture,  and  wheat  with  sweet  clover  seeding  on 
the  residue  plots.     The  plot  treatments  are  indicated  in  the  following  table  of 


1926]  Saline  County  49 

Table  11.—  ELIZABETHTOWN  FIELD:     Summary  of  Crop  Yields 
Average  Annual  Yields  1919-1925 — Bushels  or  (tons)  per  acre 


Serial 
plot- 
No. 

Soil  treatment 

Corn 
7  crops 

Wheat 

following 

legume 

5  crops 

Wheat 

following 

corn 

3  crops 

Timothy- 
clover 
mixture 
3  crops 

Soybeans 
3  crops 

Sweet 

clover 

seed 

2  crops 

1 
2 

0 

M 

18.6 
18.3 
33.3 

40.6 

12.9 
15.9 
34.8 
45.2 

44.8 
23.6 

7.8 

6.2 

14.0 

18.2 

5.8 

5.1 

12.2 

17.6 

19.3 

7.7 

4.9 
4.6 
9.3 

9.7 

2.0 
2.3 
5.7 

8.1 

8.3 

4.8 

(   -12) 
(   -10) 
(   -94) 
(1.37) 

(   -07) 
(   .09) 

(   .94) 
(1.37) 

(1.65) 
(    .05) 

2.7 
3.1 
4.2 
5.2 

2.3 
2.5 
4.3 
5.0 

4.6 
3.0 

0.00 
0.00 

3 

ML 

2.59 

4 

MLrP.  . 

2.42 

5 
6 

7 

0 

R 

RL 

0.00 
0.00 
1.99 

8 
9 

RLrP 

RLrPK 

1.74 
1.49 

10 

0 

0.00 

results.  The  difficulty  of  obtaining  satisfactory  experimental  data  on  land  of 
such  rough  topography  is  obvious.  There  are,  however,  certain  effects  standing 
out  in  such  bold  relief  as  to  leave  no  doubt  as  to  their  significance.  The  results 
for  the  different  crops  are  summarized  in  Table  11. 

These  results  show  extremely  poor  yields  on  the  untreated  land,  with  no 
improvement  from  the  use  of  manure  alone  or  residues  alone.  A  sharp  increase 
in  yield,  however,  follows  the  application  of  limestone  along  with  either  manure 
or  residues.  Rock  phosphate  seems  to  have  produced  a  beneficial  effect  on  the 
corn,  on  the  wheat  following  legumes,  and  on  the  timothy-clover  mixture,  in 
both  the  manure  and  the  residues  systems.  The  potassium  treatment  as  applied 
in  these  experiments  does  not  show  sufficient  benefit  to  cover  the  cost.  The 
following  general  observations  are  of  interest.  "The  wheat  following  legumes  has 
a  much  more  favorable  place  in  the  rotation  than  the  wheat  following  corn,  which 
fact  is  manifested  by  the  relative  yields.  Soybeans  have  not  proved  a  very  suc- 
cessful crop  on  this  field.  It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  the  residues  system  ap- 
pears to  be  fully  as  effective  in  building  up  this  soil  as  the  manure  system,  but 
a  rational  system  of  farming  might  well  include  livestock,  in  which  the  manure 
as  well  as  all  available  crop  residues  would  be  utilized  for  soil  improvement. 

The  results  from  the  minor  rotation  on  Series  500  are  too  few  to  warrant 
consideration  at  this  time. 

On  Plots  A,  B,  and  C  a  comparison  of  the  two  carriers  of  phosphates,  acid 
phosphate  and  rock  phosphate,  is  under  way.  The  acid  phosphate  is  applied 
at  the  rate  of  200  pounds  an  acre  a  year  and  the  rock  phosphate  in  double  this 
quantity.    The  plots  also  receive  residues  and  limestone. 

In  a  rotation  of  corn,  cowpeas,  and  wheat,  four  crops  of  corn,  three  of  cow- 
peas,  and  three  of  wheat  can  be  compared  at  this  time.  It  is  of  interest  to  note 
the  results  that  thus  far  have  been  obtained,  bearing  in  mind  that  the  data  are 
not  sufficient  to  warrant  drawing  final  conclusions  as  to  which  carrier  of  phos- 
phorus will  prove  to  be  the  more  economical  to  use.  Table  12  presents  the  crop 
yields  from  these  comparative  phosphate  tests  covering  the  period  since  the  full 
soil  treatment  has  been  applied. 


50 


Soil  Report  No.  33:    Supplement 


[June, 


Table  12.— ELIZABETHTOWN  FIELD:    Comparative  Test  of  Acid  Phosphate 

and  Rock  Phosphate 

Annual  Yields  of  Crops  Grown,  1921-1925- — Bushels  or  (tons)  per  acre 


Corn 

Wheat 

Cowpeas 

Year 

Acid 
phosphate 

Rock 
phosphate 

Acid 
phosphate 

Rock 
phosphate 

Acid 
phosphate 

Rock 
phosphate 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

1925 

28.8 
34.4 
32.2 
54.6 
60.2 

28.6 
32.0 
46.8 
59.2 
62.0 

3^2 
18.6 
13.3 

8.5 

'9.8 

14.3 

8.8 

10.0 

9.2 
12.5 
10.5 

(     -78) 
(  1.66) 

7.8 
4.7 
9.2 
(   .80) 
(1.27) 

Average.  .  . 

42.0 

45.7 

12.4 

11.9 

Seed  10.7 
Hay    (1.22) 

7.2 
(1.04) 

On  the  whole,  the  differences  shown  in  the  averages  are  relatively  small,  so 
that  it  may  be  said  that  after  four  years  the  data  furnish  no  reliable  indication 
as  to  which  form  of  phosphate  is  the  more  effective  in  increasing  crop  yields. 

THE  OLD  VIENNA  FIELD 

From  1902  to  1911  the  University  conducted  an  experiment  field  in  John- 
son county,  about  two  miles  southeast  of  Vienna,  on  land  that  was  described  at 
the  time  as  "red  clay,  a  soil  typical  of  the  hill  sections  of  the  state."  The  soil  is 
characteristic  of  much  of  the  type  designated  as  Yellow  Silt  Loam.  The  field 
comprized  a  tract  of  5.6  acres  of  land  rolling  in  topography,  a  portion  of  which 
was  low  and  wet.    It  was  not  tile-drained. 

Previous  to  1902  this  land  had  been  cultivated  for  about  fifty  years,  after 
which  it  was  said  to  be  still  capable  of  producing  fair  crops  of  corn  and  wheat. 

For  the  experiment  work  the  field  was  laid  out  into  three  series  of  plots  one- 
fifth  acre  in  size,  each  series  containing  5  plots.  A  crop  rotation  of  wheat,  corn, 
and  cowpeas  was  started;  but  in  1905  this  rotation  was  changed  to  corn,  oats, 
wheat,  and  legumes.  Cowpeas  for  plowing  down  were  seeded  in  the  corn  at  the 
last  cultivation  excepting  on  Plot  1.     As  the  carrier  of  phosphorus,  steamed 

Table  13.— OLD  VIENNA  FIELD:  Summary  of  Grain  Crops 
Average  Annual  Yields  1903-1911 — Bushels  per  acre 


Soil  treatment 

Corn 
9  crops 

Wheat 
8  crops 

0 

29.0 
29.8 
39.7 
37.5 

40.7 

3.0 

Le 

5.7 

LeL 

10.9 

LeLP 

13.6 

LeLPK 

15.6 

bone  meal  was  used  at  the  rate  of  200  pounds  an  acre  a  year.  Potassium  was 
applied  in  the  form  of  potassium  sulfate,  this  material  being  used  at  the  annual 
acre  rate  of  100  pounds.  Lime  was  applied  in  1902  in  the  form  of  slaked  lime 
at  the  rate  of  1,800  pounds,  and  the  following  year  limestone  was  added  at  the 
rate  of  8  tons  an  acre. 


1926]  Saline  County  5J 

Table  13  presents  a  summary  giving  the  average  annual  acre  yields  of  the 
9  corn  crops  and  8  wheat  crops  harvested  after  the  plots  had  received  their  re- 
spective treatments. 

The  great  need  of  this  land  for  organic  matter  and  nitrogen  is  brought  out 
in  these  results.  Organic  matter  and  nitrogen  are  furnished  by  the  legumes  in 
these  experiments;  but  in  order  to  produce  a  thrifty  growth  of  legumes,  it  was 
necessary  to  apply  lime.  Thus,  upon  the  addition  of  limestone,  the  corn  yield 
was  increased  by  one-third,  while  the  wheat  yield  was  practically  doubled.  In 
the  case  of  the  corn,  little  or  no  effect  was  produced  by  the  addition  of  either 
phosphorus  or  potassium  treatment.  In  the  wheat,  however,  an  increase  of 
about  3  bushels  an  acre  a  year  appears  upon  the  addition  of  phosphorus,  and  a 
further  increase  of  2  bushels  an  acre  a  year  upon  including  potassium  in  the 
treatment. 

The  yields  from  the  three  clover  crops  are  not  summarized  here  but  it  may 
be  stated  that  some  very  fair  yields  of  clover  were  obtained  on  the  better  treated 
plots. 

Altho  these  results  furnish  an  indication  of  the  most  important  needs  of 
this  land,  it  cannot  be  said  that  the  experiments  as  conducted  represent  di- 
rectly an  economical  system  of  farming.  Considering  the  several  years  in  which 
the  land  was  given  over  to  the  growth  of  a  green  manure  crop  when  nothing 
was  harvested,  even  the  yields  from  the  best  plots  would  scarcely  be  sufficient 
to  cover  the  cost  of  maintenance.  However,  it  appears  possible  that  by  modi- 
fying the  cropping  plan  in  some  manner,  as  for  example,  substituting  sweet 
clover  for  cowpeas  and  giving  large  place  in  the  farming  system  to  hay  and 
pasture  crops,  production  might  be  substantially  increased  and  thus  a  system  of 
farming  instituted  that  would  represent  a  profitable  enterprise. 

THE  NEW  VIENNA  FIELD 

From  1906  to  1924  another  experiment  field,  designated  as  the  new  Vienna 
field,  was  maintained.  This  field  was  located  about  a  mile  southeast  of  Vienna 
and  about  a  half-mile  west  of  the  old  Vienna  field  described  above.  It  em- 
braced 16  acres  of  the  badly  eroded,  hilly  land  characteristic  of  the  region. 

The  soil  of  this  field  is,  in  general,  of  loessial  formation.  It  is  strongly 
acid  in  reaction.  A  detailed  examination  of  the  area  occupied  by  the  field 
reveals  three  separable  types,  namely,  Yellow  Silt  Loam,  Yellow-Gray  Silt  Loam, 
and  Deep  Gray  Silt  Loam. 

The  work  on  this  field  from  1906  to  1915  was  concerned  with  an  investiga- 
tion of  methods  of  reclaiming  this  land  primarily  thru  means  of  reducing  ero- 
sion. Before  taking  over  the  field,  the  land,  with  the  exception  of  about  three 
acres,  had  been  abandoned  because  so  much  of  the  surface  soil  had  been  washed 
away,  and  gulleying  had  become  so  bad  that  further  cultivation  was  unprofit- 
able. Some  of  the  gulleys  were  four  or  five  feet  deep,  so  that  the  first  step  in 
reclaiming  the  land  was  to  fill  them  and  thus  make  .the  slopes  more  uniform. 

The  field  was  divided  into  five  sections.  The  sections  designated  as  A,  B, 
and  C  were  divided  into  4  plots  each,  and  D  into  3  plots.  On  Section  A,  which 
included  the  steepest  part  of  the  area  and  contained  many  gullies,  the  land  was 


52 


Soil  Report  No.  33:    Supplement 


[June, 


Fig.  6. 


-This  Unimproved  Hillside  Occurs  over  the  Fence  from 
the  Field  Shown  in  Fig.  7 


built  up  into  terraces  at  vertical  intervals  of  five  feet.  Near  the  edge  of  each 
terrace  a  small  ditch  was  placed  so  that  the  water  could  be  carried  to  a  natural 
outlet  without  much  washing. 

On  Section  B  the  so-called  embankment  method  was  used.  By  this  method 
erosion  is  prevented  by  plowing  up  ridges  sufficiently  high  so  that  if  the  water 
breaks  over,  it  will  run  over  in  a  broad  sheet  rather  than  in  rills  thru  narrow 
channels.  At  the  steepest  part  of  the  slope,  hillside  ditches  were  made  for  carry- 
ing away  the  run-off. 

Section  C  was  washed  badly  but  contained  only  small  gullies.  Here  the 
attempt  was  made  to  prevent  washing  by  incorporating  organic  matter  in  the 
soil  and  practicing  deep  contour  plowing  and  contour  planting.  With  two  ex- 
ceptions, about  eight  loads  of  manure  an  acre  were  turned  under  each  year  for 
the  corn  crop. 

The  land  on  Section  D  was  washed  to  about  the  same  extent  as  that  of  sec- 
tion C.  As  a  check  on  the  different  methods  of  reducing  erosion,  the  land  on 
Section  D  was  farmed  in  the  most  convenient  way,  without  any  special  effort 
being  made  to  prevent  washing. 


Table  14. — NEW  VIENNA  FIELD:  Handling  Hillside  Land  to  Prevent  Erosion 
Average  Annual  Yields  1907-1915 — Bushels  or  (tons)  per  acre 


Section 

Method 

Corn 
7  crops 

Wheat 
7  crops 

Clover 
3  crops 

A 

Terrace 

31.4 
32.4 

27.9 
14.1 

9.0 
12.7 

11.7 

4.6 

(.68) 

B 

Embankments  and  hillside  ditches 

(.97) 

C 

Organic  matter,  deep  contour  plowing,  and 
contour  planting. . .  .  : 

(.80) 

D 

Check 

(.21) 

10  £6] 


Saline  County 


53 


Fig.  7. 


-Corn  Growing  on  Improved  Hillside  op  the  Vienna  Experiment  Field. 
This  Land  Formerly  Had  Been  Eroded   (Compare  with  Fig.  6) 


Section  E  was  badly  eroded  and  gullied  and  no  attempt  was  made  to  crop 
it  other  than  to  fill  in  the  gullies  with  brush  and  to  seed  the  land  to  grass. 

Sections  A,  B,  C,  and  D  were  not  entirely  uniform ;  some  parts  were  washed 
more  than  others  and  portions  of  the  lower-lying  land  had  been  affected  by  soil 
material  washed  down  from  above.  When  the  field  was  secured,  the  higher  land 
had  a  very  low  producing  capacity.    On  many  spots  little  or  nothing  would  grow. 

Limestone  was  applied  to  the  entire  field  at  the  rate  of  2  tons  an  acre.  Corn, 
cowpeas,  wheat,  and  clover  were  grown  in  a  four-year  rotation  on  each  section 
excepting  D  which  had  but  three  plots. 

Table  14  contains  a  summarized  statement  of  the  results  obtained.  For  a 
more  detailed  account  of  this  work  the  reader  is  referred  to  Bulletin  207  of 
this  Station  entitled  "Washing  of  Soils  and  Methods  of  Prevention." 

These  results  indicate  something  of  the  possibilities  in  improving  hillside 
land  by  protecting  it  from  erosion.  The  average  yield  of  corn  from  the  pro- 
tected series  (A,  B,  and  C)  was  30.6  bushels  an  acre,  as  against  14.1  bushels  for 
Series  D ;  wheat  yielded  11.1  bushels  in  comparison  with  4.6  bushels;  and  clover 
.82  ton  in  comparison  with  .21  ton. 

A  comparison  of  Figs.  6  and  7  will  serve  to  indicate  the  possibility  of  im- 
proving this  type  of  soil. 


List  of  Soil  Reports  Published 

1 

Clay,  1911 

17 

Kane,  1917 

2 

Moultrie,  1911 

18 

Champaign,  1918 

3 

Hardin,  1912 

19 

Peoria,  1921 

4 

Sangamon,  1912 

20 

Bureau,  1921 

5 

LaSalle,  1913 

21 

McHenry,  1921 

6 

Knox,  1913 

22 

Iroquois,  1922 

V 

McDonough,  1913 

23 

DeKalb,  1922 

8 

Bond,  1913 

24 

Adams,  1922 

9 

Lake,  1915 

25 

Livingston,  1923 

10 

McLean,  1915 

26 

Grundy,  1924 

11 

Pike,  1915 

27 

Hancock,  1924 

12 

Winnebago,  1916 

28 

Mason,  1924 

13 

Kankakee,  1916 

29 

Mercer,  1925 

14 

Tazewell,  1916 

30 

Johnson,  1925 

15 

Edgar,  1917 

31 

Rock  Island,  1925 

16 

DuPage,  1917 

32 

Randolph,  1925 

33 

Saline, 

1926 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

Q.630.7IL6SR  COOS 

ILLINOIS  AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

331926 


